OPPOSITE of face blindness

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Okay, I know face blindness isn't one of the AS diagnostic criteria, but I have read (on this site, in many books, etc) that face blindness is a major autistic trait, that lots of people on the spectrum have it. This is honestly one area where I can say I do not fit the mold. In fact, I am the opposite of face blind, meaning I always remember faces before anything else about a person. I don't notice eyes, never have, just features of a person's face overall and my mind puts it all together. Over the years my wife has also noticed that I am far better than the average person at recognizing faces. Anyway, since face blindness is mentioned so often when discussing the spectrum, I had to ask if anyone else is like me and has the exact opposite of face blindness. I may not remember who a person is or where I know them from, but I almost never forget a face.

My brother's an artist, and is naturally visual. When the kid from across the street whom we hadn't seen in years became a film star, my brother recognized him from his teeth. As far as I recall, he had teeth, but that's all I could say. I was astonished at how much my brother could remember about what someone else can look like. I guess it's just something some people have a knack for.

My brother isn't autistic, but still. It's possible the visual artists here are also good at remembering visual details like he is.

I thought face blindness was supposed to be about not reacting to subtle facial expressions - more so than not identifying people by their face. I know I have much more problems remembering names than faces.

Once I get a good look at a face I almost never forget it. I see people who were in pre school with me, and despite the years I can still remember the face, but only the face. When I watch tele, my brother who finds this ability of mines rather funny always asks me, who is that actor or actress? If I saw a movie or sitcom or anything that featured them I would remember.

I concider myself for somewhere in between. I admit I have problems with faces. Worst thing happened to me in this matter, was to recognice someone I didn't know. To make it simple; I was walking in the city, when I suddenly saw a familiar person emerge on a bicycle. I stepped out in the street, waving and shouthing his name and just got an odd stare back. It was off cause wrong person. When thinking about it afterwards, the person I thought I saw, wouldn't ride a bicycle in the city. That's when I started to be careful to what I thought my eyes saw.
It was kind of weird, cause I really thought I saw the right person.
I have not related that story to anything, before I came across WP. I just thought the mind was playing a trick on me.

I'm with you on this one OP, I have a somehow freakishly good memory for faces. I remember people I met or even glanced at years ago and I recognise them when I see them.

i never never ever ever forget a face. it is heightened visual acuity. never. i can see a face and then rmemebr the context where i saw it last - the georgraphic surroundings and context of the last sighting of the person.

i do not do so well in terms of reading facial expressions when people are talking at the same time. it actually creeps me out and i get nauseous. i get very confused there.

but remembering faces? on that one i get 100%. i kid you not. it is spooky.

Face blindness is probably second only to lack of empathy that almost all professionals misunderstand and so mischaracterize in the trade journals and various 'studies'.
I do and I don't have so-called 'face blindness' depending on how many views, from various angles I get to have of any particular person as I store my mental images in small component parts and not whole images as many regular people do.
If I've never seen you in profile but only face on, I won't recognize you if I see you side-on. On the otherhand if you rob a bank and wear a bandana I will recoginize your eyes. I think it is all realtive and I do think that many so-called 'normal' people also have this particular trait.