Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed which are useful in rapidly verifying a person's identity at a distance, and/or identifying a person with a high degree of certitude, from a pool of other persons, using an innovative technique to compare facial images. Such a person (Candidate) may voluntarily consent or cooperate to have his facial image recorded, or the Candidate's facial image may have been recorded involuntarily. Typically, an image recorded for identification purposes will be a facial image of a Candidate present before a camera or other image procuring device, to be compared with a previously stored Reference facial image, as in a building lobby, for identification purposes. The Candidate's facial image is recorded voluntarily but the Reference image is not in the Candidate's possession.