We asked our readers to send in their best pictures on the theme of “shadows”. Here is a selection of the photographs we received from around the world.
Mike Finn
Mike Finn: “A chance meeting with a lesser kestrel in Portugal.”
Jane Luetkens
Jane Luetkens: “I was given this Indonesian shadow puppet more than 50 years ago by my father. I was recently struck by the amount of colourful, detailed decoration.”
Marylise Vigneau
Marylise Vigneau: “On a rooftop, a group of young girls play with their own shadows [in Havana, Cuba]. In the background, one can see the black smoke produced by the nearby power station. The oldest is 14 years old, but they all already dream of leaving the island. It will be crucial in the coming years to convince the youth to stay and contribute to Cuba’s future.”
Deborah O’Donoghue
Deborah O’Donoghue: “Shadows of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.”
Verna Evans
Verna Evans: “As I was going down the stairs of a bridge my shadow appeared to be climbing up to meet me.”
Neil Marsden
Neil Marsden: “She’s behind you! On Hastings Pier, this shadowy character is sneaking up on their next unsuspecting victim.”
Andrew Aughton
Andrew Aughton: “My nine-year-old, Esther, adding her own shadows to the setting sun on Arnside Beach, 10 years ago.”
Úna White
Úna White: “When walking in Ashridge woods with my friend we noticed these delightful leaf shadow patterns on a tree trunk and thought they would make a lovely photo. I have processed as black and white to hopefully emphasise the simplicity of the composition and also to try to give more definition to the leaves and the lines on the tree bark.”
Louise Moon
Louise Moon: “On a bright sunny day I noticed how the washing basket was casting interesting shadows.”
Michael Gal
Michael Gal: “While having breakfast under the strong Sydney morning sun, I noticed the pronounced shadows forming. I chose several kitchen utensils to create dramatic effects, and this was one of them.”
Hassan Bagheri
Hassan Bagheri: “The undulating facade of this performing arts centre in Providence, Rhode Island, creates patterns of light and shadow reminiscent of the music performed inside the building.”
Evelyn Oakley
Evelyn Oakley: “Early morning shadow of desert flowers at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah.”
Will Hulbert
Will Hulbert: “Damselfly resting on a sunny day, casting a shadow on the leaf below.”
Andreas Pantelides
Andreas Pantelides: “The title of this photograph is The Great God Pan, and it was inspired by the folklore of our landscapes and a short story of the same name by Arthur Machen.”
Renata Gusciora
Renata Gusciora: “I’m forever mesmerised by the play of light and shadow in the jungle. No matter how often I follow the same path, the light and shadow dance makes me stop to capture the ephemeral moment.”
Karen Faiers
Karen Faiers: “So big and yet so small. Flying home after four years, Christchurch Airport, New Zealand.”
Paul Wilkinson
Paul Wilkinson: “Shadows of people and a dog captured on the promenade wall as the sun was setting on the Isle of Wight.”
Mike Finn
Jane Luetkens
Marylise Vigneau
Deborah O’Donoghue 
Verna Evans
Neil Marsden
Andrew Aughton
Úna White
Louise Moon
Michael Gal
Hassan Bagheri
Evelyn Oakley 
Will Hulbert
Andreas Pantelides
Renata Gusciora 
Karen Faiers
Paul Wilkinson