A WEST Dorset photograher has created startling images of the night sky.

Sensational celestial snaps that show the passage of stars across the sky and highlight the beauty of the heavens were taken by Stephen Banks.

Mr Banks, 23, who works for a PR company in Bridport, visited some of Dorset’s iconic locations for a project called Dorset by Night.

He wanted to launch a collaborative project in the summer but the weather was so bad he decided to take all the photographs himself.

When conditions looked right, he set off to remote areas where there is little light pollution and sat for hours under the night sky pointing his camera upwards.

For most of the pictures he took dozens of long exposure snaps and then later merged and layered them to create one single image using the computer software Photoshop.

He taught himself the techniques used to produce the magical photos by reading his camera manual.

Stephen, who wants others to contribute to the Dorset by Night project, said: “Last year I did a similar project based just on Bridport where I live.

“This year I decided to begin a collaborative project based on the Bridport one, but taking in more of Dorset.

“Unfortunately, the weather has been so bad that I didn’t have much time to encourage others because when the sky was clear I went out.

“Some I took on long exposures of 30 seconds, which is the longest my camera will allow.

“And some are compiled from a number of exposures and that’s what makes the stars look like they are moving across the sky.

“Dorset is good for this type of photography as there’s not much light pollution.”

If you want to get involved in the project see: facebook.com/dorsetbynight