Various methods are provided for training and subsequently utilizing a convolutional neural network (CNN) to detect small pedestrians (e.g., pedestrians located away a large distance). One example method may comprise performing a first training stage in which a first CNN is trained to detect objects of a first size, the first CNN trained using a first set of images comprised of objects of the first size, and configured to output a first set of parameters, performing a second training stage in which a second CNN is trained using a second set of images, the second set of images comprising objects of a second size, and the first CNN is initialized with the first set of parameters and is re-trained using the second set of images, and determining parameters of the first CNN by minimizing error between the first CNN and the second CNN.