Ask HN: Help Setting Up An Image Processing App

Hello, my name is Duncan Cumming and this is my maiden post. I want to set up a web site which incorporates image processing software. The idea is for the user to upload a picture of his face using a web cam, and the software determies if he has one or both eyes closed. Obviously, this is a small part of a much bigger app. My question is what is the best language to use for this, and can it be developed on an inexpensive, rented virtual web host such as ipower.com or had I best get my own in-house server, develop the software on that, then rent an expensive, dedicated server to run it once it is working? The obvious language to use would be natve C / C++, but how do I compile this on a server such as ipower? I understand that it has to be compiled on the web host machine or it will not work with a client. It is possible that ipower does, in fact, allow this, but I have just not figured out how to do it yet. If not, Can anybody recommend an inexpensive web host that allows the compilation of native C / C++ code? Is there some other, higher level language that would handle this kind of an app? Any advice welcome! Duncan