As the year comes to a close, we look back at the best photos from 2011 in a new contest: the photos of the year. All of the photo of the week winners from 2011 will compete against each other for the grand prize. As is the case with our weekly contests, the photo of the year will be sponsored by Posterjack, and the winners will be decided by by our readers. The following prizes are up for grabs:

• 1st place will receive a voucher code for a 24"x36" Metal Print ($200 Value)
• 2nd place will receive a voucher code for a 24"x36" Canvas Print ($150 Value)
• 3rd plave will receive a voucher code for a 24"x36" Frameless Mount ($100 value)

Each of the photo of the week winners from 2011 will compete in a four-round contest, the individual entries of which will feature 13 photos, one for each week of the year. The three photos with the most votes from each round will move on to the final round., which will be composed of 12 photos and ultimately decide the top three photos of the year.

Following the publication of each post, voting will be open until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday of the following week.

For those photographers whose images are featured below, please feel free to give us a little information about your shot — i.e. where and when it was taken — in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe your description will sway voters in your favour! Lead photo by Edwin Chang

This is round four!

2.

~EvidencE~

3.

squirrel brand

4.

binkwilder

5.

yedman

6.

Phil Marion

7.

bukharov

8.

ZensLens

9.

ronnie.yip

10.

Jackman Chiu

11.

Half my Dad's age

12.

cookedphotos

13.

bonevulture