Provided is an image reading apparatus capable of reading an image of an original at a high resolution by an image pickup unit by reducing an influence of a dark line included in a projection image on an original placing stand, which is ascribable to a displaying element included in a projecting unit and is to be exerted on an original placed on original placing stand. The image reading apparatus includes: an image pickup unit conducting image pickup for a placing surface; a projecting unit projecting an image on placing surface; and a switching unit switching a blur amount of image on placing surface, in which the switching unit sets a blur amount of image in a first mode, in which the image pickup is not conducted by image pickup unit, smaller than that in a second mode, in which the image pickup is conducted by image pickup unit.