This is a photo diary of my journey back to my ancestral homeland. Ireland is a country rich in history and beauty at every turn. A palette with 40 shades of green could not capture the patchwork vistas of rich farmland sweeping down to the shores of Dingle Bay. Join us to discover the thatched roof cottages, ancient high crosses and castles hidden among the misty mountains of old world Ireland. Please take a peek below to see a preview of Joanne's work.

  Joanne Bernardini was bitten by the “shutterbug” after receiving her first camera at the tender age of six. At that moment a life long passion for photography was born. Initially concentrating in portrait photography, she has expanded her focus. In the last several years, through her involvement with the Ocean City Fine Arts League and the encouragement of Master Artist James Penland, she has come to appreciate photography as a true art form. This led her to concentrate on scenes that evoke a serene response in the viewer. She strives to capture that moment in time when the viewer experiences a wave of peacefulness wash over them while viewing a sunset, a lazy stroll on the beach, or the excitement of the wind in a sail.

  In the fall of 2007, Joanne received an invitation to accompany Lee J. Williames, PhD, on an extended research trip to Ireland. Dr. Williames is preparing a curriculum of Irish History Studies for the University of St. Thomas in Houston Texas. The trip afforded Joanne the dual opportunity to visit and photograph historical sites that are not on the usual tourist agenda and to indulge another of her life’s passions, genealogical research. Capturing the Ireland of her ancestors and walking in their footsteps was a treasured experience. While the larger cities of Ireland are modern bustling hubs of life, the countryside was a photographer’s dream full of bucolic farm scenes, ancient castle ruins, and misty mountains.

  She was honored to be selected as the first featured artist to display her work at the new location of the OCFAL gallery, Art on Asbury in March 2008. The show entitled, ” Ireland - Returning Home 160 Years After the Great Famine” features a few treasures from the more than 2,300 photos taken on her adventure to Ireland.