We present a theoretical and experimental study of the photothermal signal produced by a series of buried cylinders in an optically opaque sample. The models are valid for any value of the thermal properties of the cylinder and sample (the extreme cases treated are isolating and conducting cylinders), and the modulated excitation can be extended (plane wave generation) or punctual (spherical wave generation). The model results are compared with measurements performed on calibrated samples using two photothermal techniques: “mirage” deflection and infrared radiometry. Semiquantitative agreement between theory and experiment is found showing that this methodology can be used as a tool for the nondestructive evaluation of close subsurface cylinders, which represents a further step to the photothermal study of some materials of interest as the fiber-reinforced composites.