INTREPID camera club members have travelled the rivers and canals of Oxfordshire and beyond this week to bring us their very best ‘waterways’ snaps.

From vibrant sunsets reflected in the Thames and tranquil boats bobbing on the River Cherwell to rowers testing their stamina and ducklings practising swimming, the wide range of submissions left us impressed.

The beauty of waterways, especially at sunrise and sunset when the waters mirror the array of colours above, was the focus of many pictures.

Our favourites included a peaceful image of the River Windrush, near Witney, by Derek Hall and Io Nutz's snap of clouds crystal clearly reflected in the water below.

While there was plenty of serenity to be found in these photographs, the role of waterways as a bustling space for animals and humans was also a major theme.

A determined seagull diving towards a piece of bread by Darren Cammock and Ryan Taylor's shot of four ducklings in formation on the Oxford canal near Thrupp highlight the large numbers of wildlife who call waterways home.

We were particularly impressed with the detail captured in each image.

For showing the sheer joy of people enjoying rivers and canals, meanwhile, we loved a pair of pictures taken in Abingdon.

In the first, dedicated camera club member Ian Marriott has taken a selfie as he rows along the Thames, while Lauren Crawley's in motion snap captures all the fun of the town's Dragon Boat Race, which sees teams compete while wearing wacky costumes.

Finally, in a nod to one of the world's most famous waterways, Lesley Murray submitted a holiday snap of a gondola making its way down a canal in Venice.

While undoubtedly a lovely picture, we think this week's diverse Oxfordshire selection is proof the county can readily compete.

Next week, after enjoying the beauty of the countryside we want to see camera club members best pictures of 'city life'.

WIN £25

Join our Camera Club – which now has more than 600 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!