To do this I'm using the query statements:
$dbQuery = "SELECT image ";
$dbQuery .= "FROM flowers ";
$dbQuery .= "WHERE image_Id=$pic_id ";
$dbQuery .= "INTO DUMPFILE '/tmp/test.jpg' ";
But, it generates an "Access denied.." error.
However, if I comment-out the last line, namely "INTO DUMPFILE" statement, then the code accesses the dB (i.e., no access problems).
In thinking it might be permission related, I set permissions for the tmp folder and file to 777, but that didn't help.
You might not have access to use 'into dumpfile' through mysql.
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/grant.html
says you need "FILE" permission:
FILE Enables use of SELECT ... INTO OUTFILE and LOAD DATA INFILE