download this panoramic pic

open Maya

go to window-setting/preferences-plug-in Manager

check the plug-in Mayatomr is checked

Go to render setting an under render using select

Mental Ray

go to the tab mental ray

check final gathering

go down to environment image based lighting and hit create

the attributes eritor will open

in Image Name click the folder icon find where you downloaded the image file click open

Create a polygonal plane and scale it to a larger size

select mentalrayIblShape and find the tab light Emission

check emit light

set the setting to the image below

import a model I used a robot

render the scene