CAMERA Club ventured into the shadows this week to produce a spectacular collection of shady snaps.

Even more so than usual we were blown away by the variety and quality of members' shadow-themed submissions.

From deserted city streets and scary spiders to picturesque pastoral scenes and seaside snaps the full gamut of moods and settings were captured.

Many focused on people and the intriguing shadows that figures can create.

Some of our favourites included Anthony Morris' image of a ballerina striking a classic pose as she performs at the NEC Birmingham and leaping dancers captured in motion by Allen Dannfald.

We also enjoyed Jim Jutton's shot of shadow people sans their counterparts acting out a a scene of a photographer in peril, which was taken in Yarnton.

The ability for shadows to add drama to an image was also seen in a second shot by Mr Morris, this time of a Greek statue at Oxford's Ashmolean Museum.

The writhing sculptures cast large shadows that accentuate their twisted forms.

A tiny spider captured by Kim Benson is similarly given an added scare-factor due to the light giving it a giant shadow.

Other favourites included two animal shots by Derek Bird.

The first shows a cow grazing in a field as the setting sun casts long shadows at Wittenham Clumps, the other a close-up shot of a dog's face partially in shadow.

Another creature capture we enjoyed was Becca Callacott's photograph of little duckling and its little shadow.

We also loved the twin city scenes of Io Nutz's atmospheric image of shadowy figures on a street at night and a black and white snap of a Chicago building criss-crossed with the shadows from a fire escape by James Ruderford.

Finally, a photograph that captured the theme perfectly was Shez Honour's shot of a child playing by the sea, which also includes a silhouette and reflection for good measure.

Next week's theme is patterns, whether manmade or those found in nature.

WIN £25

Join our Camera Club – which now has almost 800 members – by visiting facebook.com and searching for Oxford Mail Camera Club.

Also see tomorrow’s Oxford Mail for this week’s winner of £25, sponsored by Jessops.

Happy snapping!