Christine Blaylock of Illinois wins $2,500 cash for her winning photo of 2-year-old daughter

Ronkonkoma, NY, Sept. 29, 2010 – Christine Blaylock’s photograph of her two-year-old daughter wearing a tiara, intended for an invitation for her second birthday party, is the winner of the grand prize in Sigma Corporation of America’s ‘Momtographers’ Photo Contest.’

Blaylock, of Bolingbrook, IL, a suburb of Chicago, wins $2,500 in cash for her photo, submitted in the contest’s “Dressed for Success” category, which was chosen by Sigma’s executives as the best of the nearly 270 photos submitted in the contest.

A stay-at-home mom with two children, ages 2 and 3, Blaylock said she is passionate about taking pictures of her children.

“I’d say I’m truly the definition of a ‘Momtographer,’ ” Blaylock said. “Right now, photography is just for fun. I am not a professional, though I do have aspirations of one day being able to call myself a professional photographer. I truly find joy in taking pictures and preserving my family’s memories and I would like to someday be able to do that for other families in a meaningful and special way.”

To view Blaylock’s winning photo, visit the Sigma Momtographers’ Photo Contest winner’s page.

Mark Amir-Hamzeh, general manager of Sigma Corporation of America, praised Blaylock’s creativity and photographic skill.

“This was an exciting contest from start to finish,” Amir-Hamzeh said. “We launched the Momtographers photo contest to spotlight moms who capture and preserve their families’ happiest and most memorable moments together. We were thrilled with the image quality and creativity shown in many of the photos we received, but in the end, Christine Blaylock’s submission really stood out.”

Sigma also announced that Josh Fulkerson of Newburgh, IN, won the online public vote in the contest’s “Funny Faces” category, while Kevin McGuffin of Grant Park, IL, won the vote in the “Dressed for Success” category. In The Holidays and Vacation” category, McGuffin and Fulkerson tied with 266 votes each. Each contestant will receive a $1,000 voucher toward Sigma products.

Sigma launched the Momtographers’ Photo Contest July 1. Online public voting for the best photo in each category took place from Aug. 17 to Sept. 20.

For information about the Sigma Corporation of America “Momtographers’ Photo Contest,” visit www.sigmaphoto.com/momtographers.

For information about Sigma Corporation of America and its lenses, cameras and flashes, visit www.sigmaphoto.com.

About Sigma Corporation
For nearly 50 years, Sigma Corporation’s expertise and innovation has driven the company’s core philosophy of “knowledge, plus experience, plus imagination,”with anemphasis 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 50 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.