A method of image retrieval from a target image collection, including segmenting a query image into two or more bands, obtaining weighted colour histogram vectors for the two or more bands in the query image, and obtaining weighted colour histogram vectors for two or more bands in a target image. A distance measurement is determined between the query image and the target image using the weighted colour histogram vectors from corresponding bands in the query image and the target image. Bands in an image can be groups, strips, sections, regions, or the like, and can be linear bands, rectangular bands, circular bands, or the like. The bands are preferably, though not necessarily, concentric or otherwise aligned and any number of bands can be utilised. Also, content based image retrieval is provided that incorporates use of varying photo composition in different regions as a technique for improving accuracy of retrieval.