A laterally resolved micro-XANES study (X-ray absorption near edge structure) of amorphous carbon, hydrogen terminated CVD-diamond (100) and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) is presented. The results were obtained by means of a photoemission electron microscope. Using this technique the well-known spectral features of carbon in its different chemical states (sp2, sp3) could be recorded. The sp2/sp3 content of the films was extracted from the spectra. Images, taken at X-ray energies corresponding to maxima (p*, C¯H*) of the unoccupied density of states in these spectra, map the lateral distribution of the different orbitals at the sample surface. This study revealed graphitic areas on a well-ordered diamond surface and shows the location of C¯H bonds on edges of the basal plane of the HOPG. Profiting from the elemental selectivity of the method, even weak traces of iron contaminations are mapped at the diamond surface.