Image retrieval problem

I’ve a very small home-built HR records application where users can
upload
their images. The image is stored in a user specific folder, created
dynamically, and only the reference path to that image is stored with in
the
table. Now when I am tying to retrieve this image back from its location
using it doesn’t display the image. Where as if I echo the
path
and put it in browser address bar it shows me the image. What’s going on
here? What am I doing wrong?