1. A computer system method for modeling image content comprising the steps of: providing an input image; computing a two-dimensional extended analytic signal of the input image; selecting a multi-scale filterbank by defining one or more bandpass filters that correspond to each scale of the multi-scale filterbank; processing the two-dimensional extended analytic signal through the multi-scale filterbank; calculating estimates for instantaneous amplitude, instantaneous phase, and instantaneous frequency, said calculating step further comprising the step of applying a Variable Spacing Local Linear Phase Model; selecting the instantaneous amplitude estimate with the maximum amplitude response, the instantaneous phase estimate with the maximum phase response, and the instantaneous frequency estimate with the maximum frequency response from said calculating step; reconstructing the input image using the instantaneous amplitude estimate and instantaneous frequency estimate from said selecting step to obtain a reconstructed image; and displaying the reconstructed image on a display unit.