Asked about his favorite, Ray of Hope, Steve says: I took this photo on a photography workshop in Big Sur, in late October 2025. One afternoon we went to Pfeiffer Beach, with the famous Keyhole Arch. Conditions were perfect, with the afternoon sunlight streaming through the arch. I used a long exposure to "smooth" out the water and give it a soft, misty feel, in contrast to the beautifully textured rock. The image feels almost other-worldly to me, and the beam of sunlight inspired the title.
Steve’s first place image was featured, along with the other first place winners, in the Population Connection quarterly print magazine, where he wrote the following about his photo: “In my youth, I was strongly influenced by the first Earth Day and by the books Silent Spring by Rachel Carson and The Population Bomb by Paul Ehrlich. An avid environmentalist ever since, I believe threats to our environment — habitat loss, climate change, and more — are inexorably linked to humanity’s overconsumption of resources. The human population must reach a steady state if we have any hope of living sustainably on our planet. Through photography, I aim to capture intimate landscapes and highlight what we stand to lose if we can’t live in harmony with nature. It is a daunting task, but not hopeless. In my photo, ‘Ray of Hope,’ I wish for the viewer to see a beacon leading to a brighter future for our world.”