A computer implemented method for improving image classification of a digital image comprising the steps of: (a) providing an exemplar color image; (b) systematically altering the exemplar color image to generate an expanded set of images, wherein systematically altering the exemplar color image comprises: spatially altering the exemplar color image to generate an expanded set of spatially altered images, wherein spatially altering the exemplar color image comprises: horizontally mirroring the exemplar color image, thereby doubling the number of images in the expanded set of images, or systematically cropping the edges of the exemplar color image from one or more sides of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images; and/or temporally altering the exemplar color image to generate an expanded set of temporally altered images, whereby the images in the expanded set simulate the appearance of capturing an image earlier or later in time, wherein temporally altering the exemplar color image comprises: systematically shifting the color distribution of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images, or systematically shifting the illuminant quality of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images; and (c) using a semantic classifier and the expanded set of images to determine an image classification for the exemplar color image; wherein the expanded set of images are used to train the classifier in step (c), thereby providing an improved classifier. (a) providing an exemplar color image; (b) systematically altering the exemplar color image to generate an expanded set of images, wherein systematically altering the exemplar color image comprises: spatially altering the exemplar color image to generate an expanded set of spatially altered images, wherein spatially altering the exemplar color image comprises: horizontally mirroring the exemplar color image, thereby doubling the number of images in the expanded set of images, or systematically cropping the edges of the exemplar color image from one or more sides of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images; and/or temporally altering the exemplar color image to generate an expanded set of temporally altered images, whereby the images in the expanded set simulate the appearance of capturing an image earlier or later in time, wherein temporally altering the exemplar color image comprises: systematically shifting the color distribution of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images, or systematically shifting the illuminant quality of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images; and spatially altering the exemplar color image to generate an expanded set of spatially altered images, wherein spatially altering the exemplar color image comprises: horizontally mirroring the exemplar color image, thereby doubling the number of images in the expanded set of images, or systematically cropping the edges of the exemplar color image from one or more sides of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images; and/or horizontally mirroring the exemplar color image, thereby doubling the number of images in the expanded set of images, or systematically cropping the edges of the exemplar color image from one or more sides of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images; and/or temporally altering the exemplar color image to generate an expanded set of temporally altered images, whereby the images in the expanded set simulate the appearance of capturing an image earlier or later in time, wherein temporally altering the exemplar color image comprises: systematically shifting the color distribution of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images, or systematically shifting the illuminant quality of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images; and systematically shifting the color distribution of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images, or systematically shifting the illuminant quality of the exemplar color image, thereby increasing the number of images in the expanded set of images; and (c) using a semantic classifier and the expanded set of images to determine an image classification for the exemplar color image;