shaded relief algorithm in python

hillshade.py

import numpy as np

def cart2pol(x, y):
    '''
    cartesian to polar coordinates
    '''
    theta = np.arctan2(y, x)
    rho = np.sqrt(x**2 + y**2)
    return (theta, rho) 

# =========================================================
def hillshade(dem,dx,dy,azimuth,altitude,zf):
   '''
   shaded relief using the ESRI algorithm
   '''
   # lighting azimuth
   azimuth = 360.0-azimuth+90 #convert to mathematic unit
   if azimuth>360 or azimuth==360:
      azimuth = azimuth-360
   azimuth = azimuth * (np.pi/180) #  convert to radians

   # lighting altitude
   altitude = (90-altitude) * (np.pi/180) # convert to zenith angle in radians

   # calc slope and aspect (radians)
   fx,fy = np.gradient(dem,dx) # uses simple, unweighted gradient of immediate $
   [asp,grad] = cart2pol(fy,fx) # % convert to carthesian coordinates

   grad = np.arctan(zf*grad) #steepest slope
   # convert asp
   asp[asp<np.pi] = asp[asp<np.pi]+(np.pi/2)
   asp[asp<0] = asp[asp<0]+(2*np.pi)

   ## hillshade calculation
   h = 255.0*( (np.cos(altitude)*np.cos(grad) ) + ( np.sin(altitude)*np.sin(grad)*np.cos(azimuth - asp) ))
   h[h<0]=0 # % set hillshade values to min of 0.

   return h