In an image processing apparatus processing digitized image data taken by a digital camera, or the like, an image focused on an image pickup device is divided into a plurality of rectangular regions. A value of the lightness with respect to each rectangular region and a distribution of the color saturation are calculated by using image data. The scene of the image is judged whether it is backlighted or not by using a number of the rectangular regions having the value of the lightness equal to or larger than a threshold value. When the scene is judged as the backlight scene, it is further judged whether it is actually backlighted or not by using the distribution of the color saturation.