GREENFIELD — In Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s cafeteria and oncology unit, the displayed works of local photographers Dave Madeloni and Richard Philben provide glimpses of the natural world in an otherwise sterile hospital environment.

Philben, an amateur photographer and Shelburne resident, noticed earlier this year that the hospital had begun displaying local artwork on its walls. Curious about how to get involved, Philben met with Baystate Franklin Volunteer Coordinator Katie Caron, who oversees the curation of the displayed artwork. While talking about displaying his own artwork, they found a mutual interest in working with one another: Philben, a retiree, was looking for volunteer work, while Caron was looking for help with curation.

Among the names at the top of Caron’s list of local artists who might be interested in displaying their work was Dave Madeloni, a photographer who also works in special education at Northampton Public Schools.

“I just happened to be there when the opportunity arose,” said Madeloni, who initially worked with Caron on the project, and then with Philben as responsibilities shifted.

About a dozen of Madeloni’s photos hang on the walls of Baystate Franklin’s cafeteria. The works depict reflections inside puddles, flipped upside down, to create an almost impressionist painting effect on views of the outside world. Madeloni became obsessed with this practice during the pandemic, leading him to create an ongoing series called “The Poetry of Puddles.”

When Madeloni flipped his first puddle picture upside down, he found that he “really, really liked it.”

“I thought to myself, ‘I need to do more of that,’ and then I did,” he said.

Since the inception of the project in February 2021, Madeloni has branched out to photographing the reflections of other bodies of water. Still, puddles continue to be his “jam, so to speak.”

After posting his images online, they received positive attention, which motivated Madeloni to keep going. The opportunity to display his work at a hospital was especially interesting to him.

“I love the idea of having my photos in a hospital,” Madeloni said. “You know, hospitals are a place of healing, but it’s also a place of pain and worry and anxiety. So I’d like to think that somebody who might be feeling a little bit stressed or worried there … that they might just find a little joy or respite in a photo.”

Philben is also enamored by photographing nature. After living for many years in Natick, the natural surroundings of Shelburne inspire his creative endeavors.

“I have this amazing view 45 miles away, looking at Mount Monadnock,” Philben said. “All I have to do is roll out of bed in the morning and I get these amazing sunrise photos.”

Philben takes a lot of photos while “just driving around.”

“I’m a stop and shoot kind of photographer, not technical,” he said. “If I see something, bang, you know.”

Like Madeloni, Philben hopes his images are able to soothe those who are working at or visiting the hospital.

“I figured that people coming out of there might like something like that to kind of calm them,” he said.

Madeloni and Philben’s works have been hanging in the hospital for the past four months, though the exhibits are rotating. In a statement, Caron said Baystate Franklin “is thrilled to be able to host exhibits from local photographers and artists [who are] bringing joy to our patients, visitors and team.”

“For many years, Baystate Franklin Medical Center has showcased artwork from local artists in our café and in our oncology unit,” Jodi Stack, president and chief operating officer at Baystate Franklin, said in a statement. “Displaying the beautiful work of local artists not only brightens our spaces and lifts the spirits of our patients and team members, but it also strengthens our sense of community.”

Artists who are interested in displaying their art at Baystate Franklin can call Katie Caron at 413-773-2204.