Inspection systems and methods employing directional light for enhanced imaging

An inspection system, comprising:

• an inspection camera to capture one or more images of shadows on a surface of interest;
• at least one directional light source positioned in an offset position from a central axis of the inspection camera, wherein the at least one directional light source is configured to emit directional light from the offset position into the field of view of the inspection camera so as to produce shadows on the surface of interest;
• a housing that supports and orients the at least one directional light source in the offset position, the housing including a passage that receives and supports the inspection camera;
• and
• a guide tube coupled to the housing, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow interior open to the passage, wherein the guide tube is configured for receiving the inspection camera within the hollow interior at the proximal end and feeding the inspection camera to the distal end and into the passage of the housing,
• wherein the guide tube and the housing are coupled together such that the guide tube, the housing, and the at least one directional light source are feedable together into a confined space to perform an inspection therein,
• wherein the inspection camera is feedable through the guide tube between a first position inside the guide tube and a second position extending out past a terminal end of the housing to change an angle of the directional light emitted from the at least one directional light source with respect to the field of view of the inspection camera.