testimony of an image (2025)
At the heart of the project is a live feed from a camera that initially captures an unknown street in its field of view. The live feed was found on a website that openly provides visitors with a vast archive of various cameras.
While some of these are public live streams, the site primarily features cameras that are privately owned and often stream their content publicly without the owner’s knowledge. Some are displayed on the website due to poor security or other errors (such as outdated software). This makes the devices vulnerable, and their private streams appear publicly on the aforementioned site.
„testimony of an image“ focuses on one such camera, which, according to the GPS data provided by the website, is located in Pilsen, Czech Republic. However, the site warns that the given location is only approximate and may differ by hundreds of kilometers.
The aim of the project was to localize this camera using various methods and to document and present the entire process of image archeology. The research involves collecting digital data hidden within the live feed, using it to gather a wealth of information that aids in the geolocation of the scene. It also employs additional Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) methods.
The work consists of two parts: a physical installation that serves as proof of the final discovery of the location, and a website that presents the entire process and all the methods of image archaeology used to find the scene.
Installation
– Mobile fencing
– Mesh banner, 220x190cm
– Essay
Technique
– Digital photography
– Screenshot
– Google Streetview
Finals project
– Winter semester 2025
– 2.BcA
- > Inkubátor Gallery, 2026
–Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art in Pilsen, Czech Republic
Here, I break down the image into four essential parts:
– A row of garages with blue doors – key reference point
– Type of public lighting base – helps with localization (within city districts)
– Municipal waste bins – the logo on the bin can be deciphered
– Type of curb and sidewalk – helps with localization (within city districts)
– Type of public lighting base – helps with localization (within city districts)
– Municipal waste bins – the logo on the bin can be deciphered
– Type of curb and sidewalk – helps with localization (within city districts)
These four points serve as the main elements
of the scene throughout the development of the entire project. They act
as anchor points that guide my search. Some of them, in combination
with additional clues, gradually reveal new information helpful for the
final localization of the scene.
The website where I discovered the camera provides a GPS location, which is listed as being in the center of the city of Pilsen. However, the site itself warns that these data are approximate and may be inaccurate by up to hundreds of kilometers from the stated location.
– Vehicles in the scene
– Construction
– Field research
At this point, I am addressing several aspects that I have obtained through various methods—field research, online research, and analysis of archived footage from the live stream.
#2.1–vehicles in the scene
One of the main points of interest is, of course, the license plates, which always include a letter indicating the corresponding region (of Czech Republic). However, in most cases, the license plates are completely unreadable due to their distance and the camera’s poor resolution. But there was one moment when a car appeared parked at the edge of the sidewalk, bringing it close enough for the camera’s resolution to allow me to identify the letter P—indicating the Pilsen Region.
Additionally, vehicle branding and wraps can also provide valuable information. In my case, I observed a Bolt company car (most commonly found near larger cities) and a Škoda Karoq with a Pilsen Municipal Police decal (though I was unable to capture it clearly), which passed by while I was collecting footage. Both of these vehicles strongly suggest that the scene is likely located within the city of Pilsen.
#2.2–construction
I decided to monitor this development. Over time, I managed to obtain two additional clues useful for geolocating the scene. The first was a concrete mixer truck bearing the logo of Beton Union, a company with several concrete plants in Western Bohemia—two of which are located directly in Pilsen. The second was the text “UNI DEVELO” on a safety vest worn by one of the workers, referring to a company which is also based in Pilsen.
#2.3–field research
My field research confirmed that these containers are provided by the company Čistá Plzeň. With this information, I had gathered enough evidence to confidently determine that the scene is situated within the city of Pilsen.
#3–orientation
– Prediction of the ground plan (sketch)
– Position of the sun and cast shadows
The goal of this phase is to use various parameters to eliminate as much of Plzeň’s area as possible, and drastically narrow down the territory that needs to be later searched using Google Maps.
#3.1–prediction of the ground plan (sketch)
#3.2–position of the sun and cast shadows
At
this point, the main tool for me has become the position of the sun and
the cast shadows that appear in the scene. Over the course of a single day, I recorded several shadow positions cast by an adjacent building onto the walls of the garages.
By combining several images, my sketch, and the software from the website suncalc.org, I evaluate which cardinal direction the street in the scene faces. Determining this orientation later becomes a useful element, allowing me to eliminate a large portion of non-matching city districts.
By combining several images, my sketch, and the software from the website suncalc.org, I evaluate which cardinal direction the street in the scene faces. Determining this orientation later becomes a useful element, allowing me to eliminate a large portion of non-matching city districts.
#4–finding the scene
After filtering the entire city area using the aforementioned methods, only a few city districts remained to be searched. The final clue was a municipal
decree banning the placement of trash bins in public spaces in certain
parts of the city. After obtaining information about the waste
management decree and combining it with the previously mentioned points,
only one city district remained.
– Self-portrait
– Photodocumentation
At this point, I just combined the sketch with the determined street orientation and used Google Maps satellite images to find the corresponding location. After a short time i successfully found the scene.
– Self-portrait
– Photodocumentation
At this point, I just combined the sketch with the determined street orientation and used Google Maps satellite images to find the corresponding location. After a short time i successfully found the scene.