Now, with a little more free time, a lot more budget and an employee discount at Nikon, Steph finally upgraded to a top of the line Nikon F100 (after making sure her Dad had an F5) and enrolled in multiple photography classes. From this point on, there's been no looking back.

In late 2002, Steph left Nikon, and moved with her husband and four dogs from North Carolina to San Francisco, CA to become the Northwest Regional Manager for Hamamatsu Photonic Systems. Hamamatsu is a Japanese-based company that specializes in making light detectors and digital cameras for scientific research. Scientists use these cameras in microscopy to quantify light. This type of device is used in all kinds of research including work on cancer, AIDs, Alzheimer’s Disease and anything that is being studied at the cellular level. Steph's work requires that she understand the intricate workings of digital cameras as well as the application of this technology to biological research. This position truly united all of Steph's passions: biology and research, photography, and digital and computer technology. "I feel extremely fortunate to have a job that I love partly because it is the technological counterpart to my artistic hobby."

Steph has dedicated many hours in darks rooms and on photography websites, captured tens of thousands of photos, made multiple equipment acquisitions and acquired a collection of "Photos of the Day" in pursuit of improving the artistic side of her photography. Given her line of work with scientific digital cameras, it's not surprising that Steph shoots almost exclusively with a Nikon D100. In spite of her initial love of film and the process of producing prints in the dark room, Steph says, "digital photography has become my medium of choice, mostly because of the instant feedback but also because it suits my inner geek."

When asked what type of photography she prefers to shoot, Steph replies: "It's taken me a little while to see it, but I've finally realized that I gravitate towards spontaneous, natural light photography. I especially love capturing people and animals in action or in natural, momentary poses. When it come right down to though, I'll photograph anything if it's outside."

This dedication to outdoor, natural light photography is consistent with Steph's life-long enjoyment of nature and sports, including mountain biking, rock-climbing and hiking and works well with the need to exercise four large dogs and keep up with an extremely active and athletic husband.

Steph and her husband Stephon and their four dogs live on the San Francisco peninsula and can frequently be found shooting together in Half Moon Bay, San Francisco or Yosemite.