DORSET is Britain’s best kept secret, says internationally acclaimed landscape photographer Charlie Waite.

Charlie, who calls the beautiful county home, has opened an exciting new exhibition at Moors Valley Country Park called Take a View, including snaps by six Dorset photographers.

A photo of Swanage from this Landscape Photographer of the Year collection featured in the Sunday Times last week, and Charlie is delighted at the high quality of the 100 images now on show in the park’s 18th century barn. Signing books and meeting around 70 fans, Charlie said: “Dorset has some marvellous corners for photographs.

“The camera is underrated artistically, but it’s a wonderful device for an individual to express their response to their surroundings.

“These images will awaken things in other people that you have experienced emotionally.”

The show, which includes photos of the New Forest, Kingston Lacy and the Isle of Portland, is stopping off on its countrywide tour until Sunday, November 28. Charlie, who has written 27 books, praised the venue.

“Certain situations work better than others,” he said.

“This barn is fantastic.

“An exhibition has to work aesthetically in the same way that a photo has to, and it really fits here.

“I urge everyone to come along to see the exhibition.

“You will go back and look at landscape photography in a different way.”

The free exhibition is open daily, 9am-4.30pm.

For details call 01425 470721 or see the website moors-valley.co.uk

• Photographers looking to improve their landscape skills can join a special £45 workshop on November 7, run by Mark Bauer, the winner of a National Park prize for one of his three images in the exhibition.