9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (a) comprises: (d) associating a neighborhood with a pixel of the sample image; and (e) constructing a quotient manifold of the neighborhood.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (a) comprises: (d) associating a neighborhood with a pixel of the sample image; and (e) constructing a quotient manifold of the neighborhood. 14. The method of claim 9 further comprising: (f) mapping the sample image to a set of quotient manifolds, wherein said set of quotient manifolds approximates the quotient appearance manifold mapping.