Steve Hinrichs

The cover is a photograph by Steve Hinrichs, winner of this year’s Capital City Visitor cover art contest, which drew more than 30 entries. The artists were honored at a reception March 21 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, where cash prizes were awarded to the top three entries. Steve describes the photo as merging the old with the new, as it features Fritz Klein, one of the nation’s best-known re-enactors of Abraham Lincoln, against a Route 66 backdrop.

Steve said his photography career initially began as a hobby, with friends asking him to photograph their parties and weddings. He began investing in additional equipment and set up a small studio to shoot portraits. Steve said he was heavily influenced by the work of Dean Collins, traveling to San Diego to learn from him and adopting his methods.

He has now worked full-time in photography for the past 36 years, including 16 years with the press office for the Illinois State Fair. Steve operates his photography business, 11 Acre Studio, from his home in rural Rochester. Located on a wooded hillside along the Sangamon River, the outdoor areas offer seasonal color and considerable versatility, plus an indoor studio for more formal photos.