One of the programmers of Bioshock Infinite talks about some of the techniques used for lighting within that game:
One of the ugliest games I’ve ever seen.
May people stop pretending it looks good and just admit it burns their eyes?
But I do like the way that Bioshock Infinite looks. It has a nice looking aesthetic and the lighting compliments it. It’s a good looking game.
To me it looks like a Halloween game with George Washington instead of the Headless Horseman.