hey!
if u go to the maya website they have a free maya personal edition if u wanna check it out:-
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index...&id=7639525
the three point lighting is always used in cg lighting as well:-
http://warpedspace.org/lightingT/part1.htm
http://www.cliffhanger.nl/specials/3-point%20lighting.pdf
http://www.cgtutorials.com/c32/Lighting_an...ndering/newest/
good luck!