THE magic of Dartmoor is captured in a new set of landscape photographs being exhibited at the High Moorland visitor centre at Princetown.

The images are taken from the book Stone Universe by Devon photographer Carol Ballenger, and are being exhibited as part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Dartmoor's designation as a National Park.

Carol Ballenger and John Powls, former governor of Dartmoor prison whose poetry is included in the project, will be on hand today (Thursday) for a special exhibition viewing and book signing at the centre, from noon to 3pm.

The Stone Universe book contains over 70 photographs, including six fold-out panoramas which are a major feature of the exhibition as well as the book.

Carol Ballenger said she was looking forward to having her work displayed.

'It has taken a long time to put it all together. From the first planning stages of the book, it has been three years.

'These photographs explore details of rock, ice, water, air, wood and vegetation. Here is my response to the moor.

'These photographs are not literal descriptions; they are representations of the spirit and magic of Dartmoor — fragments of the Stone Universe,' she said.

The exhibition opened last Friday (December 7) and will run until January 23. It is open daily from 10am-4pm, excluding December 24-26.