Welcome to my corner of the web! I’m Derek H. O’Brien, a passionate photographer and advocate for individuals living with disabilities in Portland, Maine. My journey took a dramatic turn on July 23, 2005, when a diving accident left me a quadriplegic at the C6-C7 level. While this life-altering event presented numerous challenges, it also ignited a fierce determination within me to embrace creativity and inspire others.

Photography has been a lifelong passion that I first explored during high school. I pursued architecture at the Catholic University of America until my studies were interrupted by my accident. After a transformative hospital stay, I reconnected with my love for photography, thanks to the encouragement of Mark Wallack. Over the next four years, I embarked on an ambitious project, capturing a photo every day using various devices, including my DSLR, iPhone, iPad and iPad Mini when I did it with the iPad mini I exclusively only used the Hipstamatic app, never repeating lens or film combination within the app, pushing my creative boundaries.

My academic journey led me to the University of Maine, where I earned a degree in New Media in 2013. In the summer of 2012, I took on the rewarding role of camp counselor at Empower, a camp dedicated to adults with spinal cord injuries, where I found joy in uplifting others.

Currently I do content creating for myself and companies, I was a video editor for Portland Media, where I blended my technical skills with my artistic vision. I am also proud to serve on two boards: Alpha One, and RTP, and advocating for inclusivity and accessibility within my community for individuals with disabilities.

Join me as I continue to capture moments, tell stories, and champion a world where everyone can thrive.

My Instagram is where all my awesome content can be found!