the real lightning

[zzzrByte]

It's really impossible to answer such a broad question... There is no solution that will fit every possible situation. Lighting is an art form, and one worth studying if you would like to get convincing, good looking results from your renders.

I would recommend Digital Lighting & Rendering (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1562059548/jurassicpunk-20) by Jeremy Birn. An excellent book on the subject of lighting 3D scenes (it isn't specific to any one software).
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1562059548.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1562059548/jurassicpunk-20)

If you want a quicker fix, I suggest you read Jeremy's article on Three Point Lighting (http://www.3drender.com/light/3point.html), which explains one of the most used and classic light setups.

P.S. To be perfectly honest, if you buy the book by clicking the link above, I will recieve a couple of bucks from Amazon... But that isn't why I am recommending it to you... I am recommending it because this book is sitting on my desk right now next to my monitor and it is an excellent read!

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