1. A method for detecting objects in an image, comprising: a) receiving magnitude and orientation values for each pixel of a plurality of pixels in an image; b) assigning each pixel to one of a predetermined number of orientation bins based on the orientation value of each pixel; for each pixel in the plurality of pixels: c) determining, for a subject pixel in the plurality of pixels, a maximum of all the pixel magnitude values for each orientation bin in a predetermined region surrounding the subject pixel; d) summing the maximum pixel magnitude values for each of the orientation bins in the predetermined region surrounding the subject pixel; and e) assigning the sum to the subject pixel.