A method of generating annotation tags for a digital image characterized by: maintaining a library of human-meaningful words or phrases organized as category entries according to a number of defined image description categories; receiving context metadata for the digital image that is associated with its capture; selecting particular category entries (72-1, 72-2) as vocabulary metadata for the digital image by mapping the context metadata into the library; and generating annotation tags for the digital image by logically combining the vocabulary metadata according to a defined set of deductive logic rules that are predicated on the defined image description categories; wherein the defined set of deductive logic rules comprises a set of conditional tests predicated on variable entries for one or more of the defined image description categories, and wherein said generating annotation tags for the digital image comprises substituting the category entries (72-1, 72-2) making up the vocabulary metadata as values for corresponding ones of the variable entries, and then logically evaluating the set of conditional tests according to the substituted category entries (72-1, 72-2); the method further characterized by: assigning a confidence or fuzzy logic weighting value to each selected category entry (72-1, 72-2) making up the vocabulary metadata, based on the extent to which each particular category entry (72-1, 72-2) can be reliably deduced from the context metadata, and wherein said logically combining the vocabulary metadata, for generating the annotation tags, comprises performing a weighted evaluation of truthfulness for the conditional tests based on the confidence or fuzzy logic weighting values; and determining the numerical values for one or more of said confidence or fuzzy logic weighting values by cross-checking relations among items of the context metadata. maintaining a library of human-meaningful words or phrases organized as category entries according to a number of defined image description categories; receiving context metadata for the digital image that is associated with its capture; selecting particular category entries (72-1, 72-2) as vocabulary metadata for the digital image by mapping the context metadata into the library; and generating annotation tags for the digital image by logically combining the vocabulary metadata according to a defined set of deductive logic rules that are predicated on the defined image description categories; wherein the defined set of deductive logic rules comprises a set of conditional tests predicated on variable entries for one or more of the defined image description categories, and wherein said generating annotation tags for the digital image comprises substituting the category entries (72-1, 72-2) making up the vocabulary metadata as values for corresponding ones of the variable entries, and then logically evaluating the set of conditional tests according to the substituted category entries (72-1, 72-2); assigning a confidence or fuzzy logic weighting value to each selected category entry (72-1, 72-2) making up the vocabulary metadata, based on the extent to which each particular category entry (72-1, 72-2) can be reliably deduced from the context metadata, and wherein said logically combining the vocabulary metadata, for generating the annotation tags, comprises performing a weighted evaluation of truthfulness for the conditional tests based on the confidence or fuzzy logic weighting values; and determining the numerical values for one or more of said confidence or fuzzy logic weighting values by cross-checking relations among items of the context metadata.