A computer-implemented method is provided for compressing a collection of images. The method includes: receiving image data for an image ensemble composed of a plurality of images; dividing the image data into a plurality of data blocks; decomposing each data block from the plurality of data blocks into a set of rank-one tensors by estimating each rank-one tensor individually, where each rank-one tensor is represented by three one-dimensional vectors; arranging the rank-one tensors for each of the plurality of data blocks into a two-dimensional matrix, where the decomposer is implemented by computer processor; compressing the two-dimensional matrix using a compression operation; and storing the compressed two-dimensional matrix in a non-transitory data store.