An image pickup apparatus which is equipped in a vehicle includes an infrared light emitter, an infrared camera and an infrared light sensor. The infrared light emitter irradiates an infrared light towards a surrounding area of the vehicle. The infrared camera performs an image pickup by receiving a reflected infrared light, which is emitted from the infrared light emitter and is reflected by an obstacle present in the surrounding area. The infrared light sensor detects a pulse light ranging from near-infrared region to infrared region, which is irradiated from an oncoming vehicle. The infrared camera delays performing the image pickup when the infrared light sensor detects the pulse light.