The present invention relates to a method of identifying a target object in an image using image processing. It further relates to apparatus and computer software implementing the method. The method includes storing template data representing a template orientation field indicative of an orientation of each of a plurality of features of a template object; receiving image data representing the image; processing the image data to generate an image orientation field indicating an orientation corresponding to the plurality of image features; processing the image orientation field using the template orientation field to generate a match metric indicative of an extent of matching between at least part of the template orientation field and at least part of the image orientation field; and using the match metric to determine whether or not the target object has been identified in the image. Image and/or template confidence data is used to generate the match metric.