Our pick of the best titles about photography published this year – each one will make an ideal festive season gift for lovers of the medium…

Here are the top ten images uploaded to Photocrowd from Round Seven, Animal Kingdom, with comments by the AP team and our guest judge

Jonathon Isola, Chandler, Arizona, USA

The latest winners of Bird Photographer of the Year were as stunning as ever. Jade Burrell writes about the contest and the overall winner as we showcase our favourites

Jessica Miller looks back at the winning images from another great year of photography competitions

If you’re planning to enter our Urban Life round, which launches next week, take these tips from four of last year’s top ten photographers