1. A method of detecting a face within a camera's field of view to resolve facial features despite inadequate illumination, the method comprising: obtaining a plurality of images of the inadequately illuminated field of view, at least some of the images being obtained at different gain factors; summing the images into a composite image; tone-mapping the composite image based on a facial lighting model; locating a bounded group of pixels in the tone-mapped image having a lighting distribution indicative of a face; and resolving facial features within the bounded group of pixels.