Unlike CC Lockwood and Doug Hansgate, which are both professional photographers, Steve uses his photography for philanthropic and educational endeavors as a way of giving back after retiring as a successful entrepreneur. During his business career, when not in a corporate boardroom, Steve most likely could be found out in the Gulf of Mexico, the marshes and swamps of Louisiana, or adventuring somewhere around the world in the outdoors. Adding photography to those adventures, it soon became obvious that the resulting images could be put to work helping make this a better planet.
Since retiring, Steve has donated his time and images to causes that help in promoting the conservation and restoration of wildlife. One area of focus has been working with the biologists of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to help both in restoring the Louisiana Black Bear and the Whooping Crane. With the bear effort, Steve treks through the woods and waters of Louisiana and records the process with his camera — even including entering the bear's den while the scientists do their work. Much of that effort takes place in the Atchafalaya Basin as both the upper and coastal areas of the basin provide prime habitat for this comeback story.
Steve's images were used in the announcement backdrop and much more when the Louisiana Black Bear was recovered sufficiently to de-list it. The work continues with providing consultation and images on several related public education programs both here in Louisiana and throughout the Southeastern US. All are designed to teach the public how better to co-exist with wildlife.
These efforts are somewhat similar to the work with the whooping crane restoration project which included providing images for educational use and for public billboards to help raise awareness of the whooping crane project. Such conservation leanings go beyond the state and US boundaries, however. Steve and his wife Marian travel the world extensively and are actively promoting conservation of elephants, lions and other animals in Africa.
Steve began his photography quest as a student of CC Lockwood in the '70s and later has been mentored by acclaimed photographers Robert O'Toole and Chas Glatzer (a Canon Explorer of Light).
