meet Othello Grey
Toronto-based photographer
Where are you from?: I grew up in Malton, a smaller neighbourhood in Mississauga.
Where do you live now?: I currently live in Toronto, Parkdale specifically.
What do you do for work?: I'm a freelance photographer.
What do you do for fulfillment?: Fulfillment is an arbitrary idea for me, I had to distance myself from that emotion. I found that chasing after what satisfies was a destructive process- I would unconsciously obsess over attaining satisfaction and fulfillment and was being led by false desire. At this point I’m a lot more focused on self-actualization and self improvement, which provides ‘fulfillment’ but isn’t done with the intention of gaining it.
What is your dream creative project?: One that I regretfully didn't do wasn't taking a portrait of my sisters son for his entire life, he's 5 now- so I've already missed a lot of time. If I'm ever fortunate enough to have a child I'll definitely do it then.
Do you consider yourself a freshman, sophomore or senior in your field?: I'd say a sophomore, I've only recently begun to truly understand why I take pictures/survive solely off of photography.
What can’t you leave the house without?: I really need to have my music, I need that soundtrack for my moments in transition. I don't really enjoy hearing everyone else's lives and having those memories and thoughts intertwining with mine. If I had the ability to discerningly separate what I remember from what I don't, it wouldn't be as important. But who knows what memories of my own I'm sacrificing for the space to remember menial conversations I hear from others.
What's a typical day in the life for you?: The only solidified element of my routine is going to the gym in the morning- beyond that everything else is fragmented and fits in and out as necessary.
What would your perfect 24 hours consist of?: Hm, truthfully I cherish every moment I'm able to freely wake up and not have the same demands I use too of working a job/two jobs that I hate or being on someone else's time. I don't really bother too much with the concept of perfect, even my most mundane days are blessings.
Where's your favourite place to eat?: Home cooked meals over everything for me.
Where's your favourite place to dance?: In my apartment with my partner, sunlight gleaming in beside us.
Where's your favourite place to drink?: I don't drink enough anymore to have one, heh.
Where's your favourite place to shop?: I had a long phase where I cared a lot about buying designer pieces, Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Issey Miyake, Undercover, CDG, KAPITAL, Needles, EG, really anything Nepenthes, Human Made. I'm at a point where none of that matters as much to me anymore, I'm really back to thrift shopping and finding one off pieces, as well as accessories. I'd rather not buy as much desinger pieces where theres a direct reference point for how it should be worn and who it's catering too. When you find an item in a thrift store theres nothing determined, you decide where to place it, it has no connotations or any backstory.
Is there something you really want to do in your city that you haven't yet?: Leave for a year.
What are your go-to tunes for getting ready to leave the house in the morning?: James Blake - 200 Press, Michael K Gimme 5 mixes/Michael K Know Wave mixes, early Thundercat.
What are your go-to tunes for exercising?: Death Grips - Bottomless Pit, Government Plates, No Love Web Deep, Money Store. Vince Stapless - Big Fish Theory, Saul Williams - Saul Williams.
What are your go-to tunes for going out for a night on the town?: I'm impartial now- really over the hyper masculinity, misogyny, degrading of women and overall lack of greater dialogue in hip hop/rap music (which use to be the go too for amping myself up lol).
What was your new years resolution?: I didn't have one, I have a strange relationship with the concept of time- New Years doesn't mean anything to me anymore. I'm alive and I have a lot of goals and ambitions but I don't place my capability of achieving into the construct / restrictions of time, nor do I quantify mine or others success based on their age or how long it took them to do it.
What do you think are the qualities of a life well lived?: That's not up to me to decide, what I may believe to be 'well lived' could mean nothing to another person. Personally I'm invested in coveting those that I care for, for a large part of my life I've been trying to balance all of my ambition/drive for success and actually spending time with all the amazing people I've been fortunate to meet. And also trying to understand how to affect social change through my work. All of these elements and what comes along with them are parts of what what I believe qualify for 'a life well lived'.
Kindly recommend 3 people that inspire you that we can continue the conversation with:
Neva Wireko, Neva Wireko, Neva Wireko :)
As told to Olivia Seally // photos are artists own.
You can follow Othello here and check out some of his work above.