Sigma Corporation partners with sculptor to spotlight underwater museum

Jason deCaires Taylor uses Sigma lenses to photograph his work, raise awareness about threatened coral reefs

Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Dec. 13, 2011 – Sigma Corporation of America has teamed up with underwater photographer, sculptor and conservationist Jason deCaires Taylor to help photograph the artist’s oft-unseen work and share it with the world.

Taylor is the mastermind behind the underwater sculpture park, known as the Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA) in Cancun, Mexico. The museum, which consists of more than 400 of Taylor’s permanent, life-size sculptures, is designed as an artificial coral reef that provides a new habitat for sea creatures, while drawing attention – and tourist traffic – from the region’s overtaxed natural reefs.

Because the four-installation project can only be viewed by scuba divers, snorkelers and people aboard a glass-bottom boat, photographs of the museum are essential in helping Taylor share this work. Christine Moossmann, director of marketing at Sigma Corporation of America, said her team jumped at the chance to support Taylor’s conservation efforts and beautifully highlight the use of Sigma products for underwater still and video capture. The manufacturer has since provided the longtime Sigma enthusiast and his team with several new lenses to shoot images of his sculptures and their denizens.

Taylor is currently using the Sigma 10mm F2.8 EX DC HSM , the 50mm F2.8 EX DG Macro , the 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM , and the 10-20mm 4-5.6 EX DC HSM . All of his recent videos and still images of MUSA are shot using only Sigma lenses.

"Sigma lenses have become a vital tool for me to document my work and portray the beauty and fragility of the underwater world … I have been photographing underwater for more than 10 years and have tried many different camera setups, however, using Sigma's wide angle 10-20mm has been a turning point,” said Taylor. “It allows me to get in really close, which improves water clarity and detail; it is excellent in low light and reveals the true appearance of the sculptures by not causing any distortion. It also produces incredibly sharp and vibrant imaging."

In addition to using the Sigma lenses to capture still images of Taylor’s project, the sculptor and a team of underwater filmmakers are using the lenses to document his work in a movie called Angel Azul. Angel Azul is being produced by a group of environmentalists and will be narrated by renowned actor, writer and social activist Peter Coyote. In addition to Taylor’s work, it will also include the work of The Nature Conservancy’s Dr. Rod Salm, who has developed a “toolikit” used to implement strategies worldwide in an effort to protect or revive threatened reefs. All of the underwater imagery in the movie, which will likely be released in the fall of 2012, is captured with Sigma lenses.

“The scenes that Jason is able to create with his underwater sculptures are incredibly evocative and the images of his work are mesmerizing,” said Moossmann. “We’re honored that our products are tied to such beautiful photography – and such an important cause. This project is a great example of how art and photography can promote awareness and change, and we’re pleased to be a part of that message.”

For information about on Taylor, MUSA or his artwork, visit www.underwatersculpture.com . For information about the Angel Azul film, visit www.angelazulthemovie.com . For information about Sigma Corporation of America and its lenses, cameras and flashes, visit www.sigmaphoto.com .

About Sigma Corporation
For more than 50 years, Sigma Corporation’s expertise and innovation has driven the company’s core philosophy of “knowledge, plus experience, plus imagination,” with an emphasis on producing high-quality, high-performance photographic technology at moderate prices. This family-owned organization is the largest, independent SLR lens manufacturer in the world, producing more than 40 lenses that are compatible with most manufacturers, including Sigma, Canon, Sony, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax. Sigma Corporation also produces digital SLR cameras and high-definition digital compact cameras. The company is headquartered in Japan, with offices strategically located throughout Europe, Asia and North America. For information, please visit www.sigmaphoto.com .
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