Paired images of substantially the same scene are captured with the same freestanding sensor. The paired images include reflected light illuminated with controlled polarization states that are different between the separate images. A first pixel value from one of the first image and the second image is subtracted from a corresponding pixel value from a remaining one of the first image and the second image. When repeated over the raster of corresponding pixels, a modified image includes an isolated representation of substantially pure specular color data. The captured images and the modified image are stored and used to generate a model. Substantially shadow-free diffuse color and specular color data are applied to texture maps of the model to generate a virtual environment where a virtual light source can be introduced and controlled to achieve desired results absent adverse effects introduced from fixed ambient light sources used in conventional source photography.