Russ Byrne, a commercial shooter near San Francisco, won the PixSylated ‘Exciting Light’ Contest with the following shot. His prize is a seat at David Ziser’s ‘Digital Wake Up Call’.

There are a number of aspects that I enjoy about this photo. First, it turns an otherwise boring MRI machine into a bold geometric pattern (thanks to the red gel over the camera-mounted 580EX flash). Second, my eye is drawn through the machine to the subject’s face and held there. Russ spotlighted Dr. Patels’s face by snooting a 430EX Speedlite on his right. The falloff is lovely – as is Dr. Patel’s expression and gesture. The third (or is it fourth?) aspect of the photo that caught me is the subtle contrast between the cool blue on Dr. Patel’s hair and the warmth of his face and the red machine. The blue cast was created by another 430EX gelled blue on the subject’s left. Russ did a great job demonstrating that a few Speedlites and gels can turn an ordinary assignment into the extraordinary.

To see all of the ‘Exciting Light’ entries, go to the PixSylated group on Flickr (feel free to join the group while you are there) and then put “DWC09″ into the search box.

There were many other entries that I enjoyed. Here are some of my other favorites:

^ Curtiss Bryant’s two-light shot of a bride against a Florida sky at twilight just glows (thanks to the 580EX II at 1/4 power behind the bride and another 580EX II pushed through an umbrella at 1/2 power). For me, the exciting part is the crisp contrast between the bride’s luminous dress, her dramatic gesture and the soft, pastel sky.

^ ‘Bosco’ was the first entry in the Px ‘Exciting Light’ contest. The shot, by Jeff Lynch (a freelance shooter in Oak Forest, Illinois) was lit with a single SB600 shooting through a Lumiquest Softbox III . I kept coming back to the photo –  not because the light is exciting – rather because it is simply beautiful. Proof once again that just about anything can become attractive if the light is right. Way to go Jeff!

‘Our Superhero’ is truly iconic and yet remains completely innocent at the same time. Although I am usually not a fan of black-and-white photography, this image captivates me. It may have been shot recently. It could have been shot 50 years ago. The effect of the single strobe and the boy’s gaze combine magnetically.

Thanks to all who entered the Px ‘Exciting Light’ Contest. David’s 58-city ‘Digital Wake Up Call’ tour is about to get on the road. Here is the schedule and details on how you can save $20 on admission.