When Mike Battista, a member of the North Haven Camera club, was looking for a place to share the expressive work being done by club members, he knew he was in the right place when he met Yvonne Gordon of the Branford Art Center and Gallery.

“Yvonne is so committed to creating connections within the community, and this is another project that she has taken on to celebrate the works of local photographers,” he says.

The work of North Haven Camera Club, which draws members from the greater New Haven area, along the shoreline, and as far away as Meriden and Harwinton, will be on display at the Branford Art Center and Gallery through Friday, Dec. 30. There will be an opening reception, free and open to all, Saturday, Dec. 10.

Battista said each member was asked to select a piece that held special meaning to them, one that highlights an advance in artistic or technical growth. Battista, who has exhibited his work professionally both as a painter and a photographer, says that exhibiting their work is a first for some of the artists in the show.

“Taking the step to print, mat, frame, and hang work in a gallery is a big step in developing the ability to see images as finished artistic statements, rather than works in progress,” he says. “I hope that the members, family, and community will appreciate the great work that will be hanging in the gallery and feel a sense of accomplishment.”

The work will be for sale to the public and, he adds, “the next several weeks are a great time to get some holiday shopping done and support local artists/photographers, who create original work, rather than buy mass produced iproducts.”

He says the club is made up of members who run the gamut of professional photographers to those who just recently took up a camera.

“Club President Muke Grabowski has created an environment where all can share their knowledge and expertise and learn from each other,” he says. “The objective of our club is to bring together individuals interested in learning and improving the techniques of digital photography in a friendly environment. We always welcome guests to visit any one of our meetings with the hope that they become members and share in our passion of photography.”

The Branford Art Center is located at 1229 Main Street, Branford. The exhibit, Through the Lens, can be viewed at the gallery during regular business hours, Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. More information can be found at www.branfordartcenterct.com/calendar.html, or by calling the gallery at 203-208-4455 or 860-334-4642.

The North Haven Camera Club offers instructions and photo shoot events for photographers at all skill levels, with camera ownership ranging from cellphones to advanced dSLRs. The club meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from September to June, with an occasional bonus meeting in some months. Meetings are at 7 p.m. in the Hope Christian Church community center, 211 Montowese Avenue, North Haven. For more information about the club, visit www.northhavencameraclub.com/.