Bright colored butterflies, watery reflections and other natural elements came into focus on Friday with the opening of a new exhibit at the Cochran Gallery.

The West Central Georgia Chapter of the Georgia Nature Photographers Association opened a show at the Cochran Gallery on Friday night to a full house, according to the gallery’s owners. The good turnout is especially impressive when considering the host of other events competing for local attention that night, but the Cochrans had confidence the incredible images would draw art and photography lovers to the gallery.

“It’s a great show,” Wesly Cochran said. “There are some really interesting images of nature, and I think a lot of this is Georgia — [but] not all of it is Georgia.”

This is the first year that the gallery has hosted an exhibit for the association, but local photographers have been featured at the gallery before, including Steve Griffin, who is a member of the Georgia Nature Photographers Association. Cochran credits Griffin with connecting the gallery with the association and making the show possible.

“Steve Griffin is a good friend, and we’ve had some of his work in the past,” Wesly Cochran said. “He asked me about a year or so ago about this — about having a show of nature photography – so that is how it got started.”

For Wesly Cochran and his wife Missy, the gallery is an opportunity to experience art outside of their personal collection, and to enjoy the work of a wide range of artists. One of the biggest highlights of featuring local artists though, is getting to meet the artists themselves at the gallery openings.

“With any exhibit, meeting the artists — I think — is fabulous and getting to know them and spending time with the art,” Missy Cochran said. “We don’t collect photography so this is kind of different for us, so we get to enjoy a different medium then we are used to seeing and collecting.”

Over the course of the year, the gallery features a wide array of art styles, and Wesly Cochran encourages artists and art lovers alike to come out and view the works, especially those of local artists.

“We will have paintings and photography and prints and sculpture, so we change out about every two months to a different show,” Cochran said. “We really have enjoyed having this and showcasing some local artists, local photographers — showcasing local talent.”

All the pieces on display at the show are for sale, and admission to the gallery itself is free. The show is scheduled to be on display through Sept. 16 at the Cochran Gallery, 4 E LaFayette Square and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. The next exhibit at the gallery will be another photography exhibit titled “Slow Exposures,” which will open at the gallery on Sept. 22 following the exhibit’s juried show in Zebulon, GA.