Photography Book of the Year: Herb Ritts: The Golden Hour

With so many excellent releases this year, it was difficult enough to narrow the nominees in this category down to five, let alone determine a winner. And it was almost unfair to the other contenders that they were up against a book about a legend like Herb Ritts. Not just any Ritts tome—but Charles Churchward's excellent and illuminating examination of the late lensman's life and work.

Consisting of classic images, unpublished work, personal photos and extensive interviews, Herb Ritts: The Golden Hour is the caliber of retrospective every great visual artist deserves. The fact that Ritts is the subject certainly helped Churchward win the Golden Iris this year. But the main reason his release earned the top prize is because, it's not just the best photography book of the year, it's also one of the best books of 2010 in any genre.

Go below to watch a Herb Ritts Foundation video montage of the late photographer's work.