To provide a lighting system that can take using a camera an image in which fine irregularities contained in an appropriate range on the surface of a subject for examination, and an uneven gloss are made uniform.

A light source 3 is provided in a position where it can illuminate an entire photographic area photographed by a camera 2. A diffusion plate 4 is inserted between a subject 1 for examination and the light source. The diffusion plate 4 covers an area (area A show in the figure) on the vertical line of the subject for examination and an area (area B shown in the figure) wherein the input lines of the camera undergo regular reflections at the surface of the subject 1 for examination. The emitting surface of the diffusion plate 4 is tilted by an angle θ1 so as to become approximately parallel to the input lines of the camera. Further, a reflector 5 is provided in such a way as to constitute a V-shape with the diffusion plate 4, with the light source 3 sandwiched between them.