The invention relates to a method for illuminating a surrounding area (14) of a motor vehicle (10) with the steps of: generating light rays (16) with a lighting device of a headlight (12) of the motor vehicle (10) to provide a light distribution (18) in the surrounding area (14); determining a first (20) and at least one second sub-area (22, 22', 22", 22"') of the light distribution (18); controlling the lighting device by means of a control device (24) such that the light rays (16) for providing the light distribution (18) in the first sub-area (20) have a first polarization and the light rays (16) for providing the light distribution (18) in the at least one second sub-area (22, 22', 22", 22"') have a second polarization different from the first; and absorbing the light rays (28) reflected in the surrounding area (14) in the direction of an occupant (26) of the motor vehicle (10) with the second polarization by means of a polarization filter (30). Furthermore, the invention relates to a headlight (12) and a motor vehicle (10).
