1. A method for generating a gradient characterization for a first fingerprint image, the method comprising: selecting one or more fingerprint feature points from the first fingerprint image; obtaining a region for each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points, wherein the region is a representation of an area proximate a given fingerprint feature point; dividing each of the obtained regions into a plurality of sub-regions; generating a histogram for each of the plurality of sub-regions; and combining the one or more generated histograms into a concatenated histogram for each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points, wherein the concatenated histogram is used for identification purposes.