I’ve been carrying a camera with me (or had one close by) since childhood. In fact, the first photo I remember taking was of a dolphin jumping through a hoop at a Florida theme park. I was no older than 10, but my memory of that is still vivid. (How I wish I had kept that photo!)
It took me more than a half century and thousands of photos later before I would photograph anything like that again.
After graduating from law school in Wisconsin, I moved to Atlanta where I continued to take B&W street photos that I developed and printed in my basement darkroom. In the early 1980’s I added travel photography, switched to shooting color slides, and began renting space in a local photo lab so I could continue to do my own printing. In the early 1990’s I made the switch to digital photography and computer-based editing.
The transition from thinking of myself as a street and travel photographer to thinking of myself as a bird photographer was almost immediate, however. Shortly after moving to Hilton Head Island in 2018, I started taking some photos of the wildlife that make this area an ideal place for nature lovers and photographers. I was hooked immediately – and rewarded too, as one of my first bird photos was awarded first place in the 2019 Society of Bluffton Artists’ show (“White Ibis #1”).
While the differences between street and travel photography and bird or wildlife photography are far too numerous to mention here, one thing is certain: the thrill of capturing a great photo is exactly the same. As a street and travel photographer I certainly didn’t need to consult tide charts or weather forecasts, nor did I have to refer to the “Merlin Bird ID” app. As I see it, however, the chief difference is that while many of my earlier photos reflect a sarcastic, ironic and even dark tone, my bird photos reflect the exact opposite; that is, they reflect a level of honesty and beauty, which is a large part of what attracts me to photographing birds in the first place.
Finally, while being proficient with a camera is a must, what l hope distinguishes my bird photos from others is my emphasis on color, composition and context, rather than National Geographic style technical perfection. As a result, about half of my photos are what I would call “stylized,” that is, I use digital post-processing programs to add an evocative, painterly quality to them.
Previous Shows and Awards
2019 to present
Featured Artist ("3 Visions, 3 Voices"), Art League Gallery, Hilton Head Island, S.C., Sept-Oct 2024 ∞"Wings 2024, An International Group Exibition by Gallerium" ∞ "2023 Figures or Faces Online Exibition," Las Lagunas Art Gallery (California) ∞ San Diego (Ca.) Museum of Art “2021 International Exhibition” ∞ Art League of Hilton Head “2021 Biennale National Exhibition” ∞ Colquit Center for the Arts (Mass.) “All in the Family Online Exhibit” ∞ Society of Bluffton Artists “25th Annual Show” (1st Place, Photography) ∞ Coastal Discovery Museum “2021 Lowcountry Through the Seasons” exhibit ∞ Flagler County (Fla.) Art League “2021 Bird is the Word” online exhibit ∞ Arts Council of Hilton Head “2021Town Hall Exhibit” ∞ 2020 Garden Tour Poster Contest, HHI (Finalist)
While living in Atlanta
“Brown’s Guide to Georgia” magazine (1st Place, Color Photography) ∞ “Photographer’s Forum” magazine (Award of Excellence) ∞ “The Atlanta Journal Constitution” (2nd Place, B&W Photography) ∞ “Atlanta Magazine” (Honorable Mention) ∞ South Cobb Arts Alliance - 21st National Exhibition (Honorable Mention) ∞ High Museum of Art - “Electric Blanket” Outdoor Exhibit ∞ Hastings Seed Gallery (judged by the Whitney Museum of American Art) ∞ Arts Festival of Atlanta – “Photography Southeast” ∞ Jubilee Arts Festival (Cobb County, GA) ∞ Art of the Golden Generation (Kennesaw State University) ∞ State Bar of Georgia Art Exhibit (2nd Place).
Individual Shows (Atlanta Area)
Hall-Hays Gallery (Atlanta Photography Group) ∞ Spruill Center for the Arts (Library Gallery) ∞ Atlanta Celebrates Photography (at Radial Café) ∞ Backdrop Gallery (Midtown Atlanta)
Additional Background
Steve has been a full-time resident of Hilton Head Island since 2018. Before moving to HHI he was a partner in the Law Firm of Williams Edelstein Tucker, P.C. headquartered in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, where he was named “One of Georgia’s Top-Rated Lawyers” by Lexus-Nexus. Before that, Steve was Chief of the Civil Rights Division in HUD’s Southeast Regional Office, where he was named Federal Employee of the Year by the Atlanta Federal Executive Board.
Yes, my photos are for sale, in virtually any size and medium (paper, metal or canvas) you want.
PLEASE VISIT THE PRICE LIST PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SIZES AND OPTIONS.
Please feel free to use the contact page to send me a private email and I will respond as quickly as possible.
Thanks, Steve