In 2012, his image “Old Veteran” was awarded first place at the International Juried Photography Competition and Exhibit hosted by Carmel Art Institute in Carmel, California. In 2014, out of 30,000 entries, Steven’s “Tenaya Lake Evening” won first place in the Outdoor Photographer Magazine’s Great Outdoors contest. Other awards and nominations include the prestigious Fine Art Photography Awards (London), International Photography Awards, Ansel Adams Gallery photography contest, and Black & White Spider Awards.