Reply #5: Yes. That is also why publishing photos of criminals [View All]

[MineralMan]

only works when someone who already knows calls the police. You can see a photo on television or in the paper, and walk right by that person without recognizing him or her.

A person who knows the person recognizes that person on seeing the photo. Since most criminals have more enemies than friends, such published photos often result in someone identifying the person.

A single viewing of a person is not very conducive to making a later identification, unless there is some characteristic so unique that it instantly identifies the individual. That's rare.