An approach is provided for acquiring both depth and surface normal of an object using a time-of-flight sensor with multiple distributed light sources. The approach involves causing, at least in part, at least one sequential illumination of at least one object by a plurality of distributed light sources associated with a time-of-flight sensor. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a capturing of reflected light intensity data using the time-of-flight sensor during the at least one sequential illumination. The approach further involves processing and/or facilitating a processing of the reflected light intensity data to determine at least one depth, at least one surface normal, or a combination thereof of the at least one object.