Daily Herald photo contest winners for September 2026

The top finishers in September’s amateur photo contest showcase the beauty of nature from Iceland to Illinois.

Topping this month’s contest is a vibrant photo of Brúarfoss, nicknamed “Iceland's Bluest Waterfall,” taken by Paul Carlstrom of Mount Prospect this summer.

In second place is Graham Dries’ atmospheric photo of the sunrise over Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville. The Libertyville resident writes, “The picture is a perfect combination of the beautiful trees, the water, the sky, the sunrise, the bridge, and the steam coming off the water. Can’t wait to go back.”

Nancy Baird’s wonderfully textured photo demonstrates how this mushroom resembles the tail fan of a wild turkey. The Wheaton resident writes, “St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville is dressing for fall.”

A charming photo of Patricia Hartmann’s grandson pulling corn stalks from the ground takes the fourth spot. The Elgin resident writes, “I liked the determination, perseverance and struggle shown in the photo. My grandson succeeded in harvesting five ears for dinner.”

Contest rules

The Daily Herald invites readers to submit their own photos to our “Your Images” amateur photo contest.

Once a month, we showcase entries that feature one first-place winner and three runners-up. The contest is open to everyone in the Daily Herald readership area.

• To submit a photo of your own for consideration, email it in .jpg format at the highest quality possible to yourimages@dailyherald.com. Please remove any date stamps on the photo.

• Include your name, mailing address and phone number, plus a detailed description of your photo. Remember to include a sentence or two on what you like about it and your hometown.

• One photo a week per photographer, but enter as many weeks as you’d like.

• First-place winners will receive prizes alternating between The Great Frame Up in Schaumburg and PJ’s Camera in Glen Ellyn.