1. An automated, computerized method for learning object recognition in an image, comprising the steps of: providing a training set of standard images; calculating intrinsic images corresponding to the standard images, the intrinsic images comprise material images and illumination images; and building a classifier as a function of the intrinsic images by selecting image features from each of the material images and illumination images as a function of relationships between features from each of the material images and illumination images, the relationships between features from each of the material images and illumination images comprise features selected from the group consisting of differences and sums of features, products and ratios of features, sums of products, and products of sums.