Image processing apparatus, image-taking system and image processing method

An image processing apparatus is disclosed which can provide a high-quality image by specifying an image corresponding to an image resulting from non-image forming light in image information obtained by taking an image of an object having a high brightness and conducting image processing to make the image difficult to recognize visually. The image processing apparatus processes image information which includes a first image component which was responsive to an image-forming light and a second image component which was responsive to a non-image forming light. The image processing apparatus has an image acquiring section (10) which acquires the image information and an edge processing section (32) which conducts edge processing with respect to the image information to distinguish the second image component with respect to the first image component.