The present invention provides a photoacoustic imaging apparatus, having: a light source； a plurality of detecting elements for detecting an acoustic wave generated from a surface of an object and a light absorber inside the object, and converting the acoustic wave into a detection signal； and a signal processor for generating image data based on detection signals detected, wherein the signal processor has: a Fourier transformer for performing Fourier transform, in a spatial direction, on the signals detected at a same receiving time so as to obtain spatial frequency signals； and an inverse-Fourier transformer for performing inverse Fourier-transform after reducing components exhibiting less than a predetermined frequency from among the spatial frequency signals so as to obtain second signals, the signal processor generating image data using the second signals.
