This Nikon D300S just earned an extra $300 with an interesting tern! (Our Sept POTD winners unveiled)

posted Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 8:51 AM EDT

Our longtime photography contest contributor Morris Bennett Altman is no stranger to bird photography, but it seems his images of birds on a sandy beach are the ones that most captivate the judges here at IR. We're proud to introduce his latest winner, as well as a host of terrific images from some of our top photographers this month.

It was only a few years ago that Mr. Altman captured another first prize victory with his captivating photograph of a gorgeous snowy owl on a beach, that time with a Nikon D200. He then took a bronze medal on our awards podium just a few months ago with a delightful image of an egret pruning, this time with a Nikon D300. That particular camera line paired with bird photography has certainly worked in his favor, as he's back to the gold medal spot once again with a D300S capturing hungry baby terns.

Taking second and third prize this month and also winning gift certificates from Adorama are Don Jeane and Carol Lynne Fowler with captivating landscape images, while our worthy runners-up images are back to the avian variety, with Linn Smith and Deborah Seibly enticing us with two enchanting photographs of birds. Congratulations to these excellent photographers, and if you'd like to leave praise for their work, please do so in the comments section down below!

First Prize • $300 gift certificate from Adorama

First prize • Tern Chicks Waiting For Food by Morris Bennett Altman • Nikon D300S

Second Prize • $200 gift certificate from Adorama

Second Prize • Mt Vestrahorn by Don Jeane • Canon 7D Mark II

Third Prize • $100 gift certificate from Adorama

Third Prize • Palouse Barn by Carol Lynne Fowler • Canon 5D Mark III

Additional Honors

First runner-up • Red-Crested Turaco by Linn Smith • Canon 5D Mark III

Second runner-up • Green Quartet by Deborah Seibley • Nikon D610

Once again, similar to last month and indeed most months in our competition, we see the winners' podium stocked predominantly with Canon and Nikon enthusiast-grade DSLR's, a trend we reported about in this news article. In the five years that I've worked on this contest there have been a few months that have bucked this trend, but certainly not many. Yet again, the status quo has reasserted itself with Canon and Nikon DSLR dominance in our contest.

For those of you wanting to know more about our competition please visit this news story, which describes our contest and also offers some useful tips to help you succeed, and this story that warns you of the best ways to NOT succeed. To see the camera and exposure information for this month's winners, please click any image above, and to see winners from previous months, please visit our POTD winner's gallery.

[And if you're ready to enter now, just click here!]

On a related note, we've just started a new series of articles called "Reader Stories," where we turn the tables and let you, our readers, do the talking! We're interested in seeing more of the shots you're the happiest with, and in hearing just how you got them, or just hearing about your passions, interests and the gear you love! Intrigued? Please click here!