A three-dimensional (3D) rendering method and apparatus to render a 3D scene is disclosed. The 3D rendering apparatus determines color values of vertices shaded by a direct virtual light source, establishes one or more locations of one or more indirect virtual light sources in polygonal areas formed by the vertices based on the determined color values of the vertices, and renders a 3D scene based on the one or more indirect virtual light sources disposed at the determined one or more locations.