An apparatus for facial recognition is provided that includes a camera. One or more images are configured to: determine a pseudo-random sequence of image capture modes for a plurality of groups of image captures, wherein each group includes at least a capture using a first illumination mode and a capture using a second illumination mode, wherein the ordering of the first and second illumination modes for each group is pseudo-randomly determined. Image information is received for a set of image captures used for facial recognition The image information is indicative as being captured by the camera unit. A determine is made whether to authorize facial recognition in response to analyzing the image information and determining whether the image information was captured using the pseudo-random sequence of image capture modes. A second illumination mode is a tunable VCSEL laser with one or more active regions having quantum wells and barriers. The active regions are surrounded by one or more p-n junctions. The one or more active regions can include a selected shape structure. One or more tunnel junctions (TJ) are included. One or more apertures are provided with the selected shape structure. One or more buried tunnel junctions (BTJ) or oxide confine the apertures. Additional TJ's, planar structures and or additional BTJ's are created during a regrowth process that is independent of a first growth process. A VCSEL output is determined in response to an application of the VCSEL laser. The VCSEL laser includes an HCG grating and a bottom DBR. A user monitoring device includes the VCSEL laser.