The image reading apparatus includes: an original placing unit on which an original is to be placed, and the original placing unit transmitting light applied onto an original surface of the original and light reflected by the original surface; a lighting unit having plural light-emitting elements arrayed in a line and lighting the original surface of the original placed on the original placing unit; an image signal generating unit receiving the light reflected by the original surface lit by the lighting unit and generating an image signal; a detecting unit detecting a position of the original surface; and a lighting-unit setting unit setting, by using a result of the detection by the detecting unit, the lighting unit at an angular position so that the image signal generating unit does not receive light emitted from an optical axis of the light-emitting elements and then reflected by the original surface.