1. An image region segment extraction method for extracting an image segment from a video image comprising the steps of: calculating motion data for a video image based on sequential video images obtained by a video camera; using said sequential video images to estimate the camera operations required of said video camera; referring to said camera operations performed under predetermined conditions to estimate the location of the center of a target area in a video image that has been obtained; designating image features in the vicinity of said center position of said target area; and designating an image segment in which said image features are included.