Inspiration

In the Moment with Instax: Daddy COol

October 1, 2025

In the Moment with Instax: Daddy COol

Gamer, music lover, software engineer and a man that believes in “Don’t just take, give”. Instax South Africa has a lekker chat with Daddy Cool, including about his Instax Wide 400.

Hi there, welcome to In the Moment with Instax! Give us a quick introduction to yourself.

Hi! My name is Ruan, often known as Daddy COol, thank you for having me! By day I’m a software engineer, by night, I’m a jack of all trades and apparently a photographer?

How did your love of Instax start?

A close friend had the Instax Wide 200 and brought it with us on a holiday all the way back in 2018, and I remember taking some pretty good pictures with it. Four years later we used it as a cool way to populate our guestbook at my wedding, and he ended up giving it to me as a wedding gift.

Fast forward two crazy years later and haven’t really touched the camera, until one day I took it down to Cape Town for Secrets of Summer. There, I believe, was the first time I took an “in the moment” picture at Brash in Sea Point, handing them the print. The joy it brought them was something magical and they still have it – front and centre at their store!

From then I found myself going to places with the camera more and just feeling moments to take pictures of people and giving it to them. At around the end of March this year is where I really wanted to start exploring my creative side more and the Instax pictures have been a perfect medium for me.

You've eventually settled on the Instax Wide 400, a good choice we might add. What do you like about the camera?

I loved my Instax Wide 200, but sadly, one night it fell at a Techno Disco. But I immediately started looking for a new one and found the Wide 400, in a style and colour I adored at what I would consider a good price of R3 500. What I love about it is its aura, but also just how mechanical everything is. The click when you turn it on? Chef’s kiss.

You are actively involved in the local esport scene. Can you tell us more about esports in SA, which games you play and how people can get involved?

What’s my character limit here? I can talk about esports and competitive gaming for long hours into the night. Esports is a scene that just keeps growing and evolving year on year, internationally and especially locally.

There are so many ways to get involved, the two best ways in my opinion is by joining our two biggest Tournament Organiser’s websites, www.acgl.gg and www.mettlestate.com, join the leagues there, find yourself a team of like-minded individuals and just start grinding.

I’ve done various talks about esports at Comic Con and it usually comes down to putting in the work, playing with the right people and playing with intent. I am a big First Person Shooter enjoyer, being one of the top players in the country on PC back in the day for Black Ops 3. I also achieved Masters in Apex Legends, which is about the top 1.7% of players, multiple times.

But the one game that I’ve never stopped playing is DotA (IYKYK). Retirement age for esports is about 27, so now I do shoutcasting, a.k.a. commentating on live games, and I hope I’ll have the privilege of being involved in the scene for a long time to come.

If you were able to design your own Instax film how would it look like?

I have two modes, all the colour, or minimalism, so either an absolute rainbow vomit frame, I’m thinking Pride-inspired, or a nice, somewhat, pastel, olive green.

You're able to snap an Instax photo with anyone in history - who would that be?

Can they still be alive? For me it would have to be Hank Green and Michael Stevens, they have been a major inspiration in my life and I see them as amazing role models that I hope more people, and especially young men, will look up to. But from the past, I’m thinking Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

How often do you share Instax prints with others?

I did the math and I usually give away about 17 pictures for every one that I keep. That's a ratio of 17:1 – pretty good! I love when people tag me or send me the pictures afterwards or if I bump into them and they tell me the story of where they’ve put their picture - it’s such a magical experience.

I also just love the journey of approaching random people, asking if I can take a picture FOR them. Then they see this dope camera and are like, “What’s that?”. I’m often shocked by how many people have never seen an instant camera. And then finally, when they see the print come out and tell them it’s theirs? The range of reactions are so vast but always beautiful!

What's your favourite song, at the moment?

I have two modes once again here, the sadder/more cathartic the better, or maximum energy with Drum & Bass. So, the answers are “Beige” by Yoke Lore and “Distance (Buunshin Remix)” by Apache.

What's your favourite film, at the moment?

Andor. It’s a series, but actually, it’s just a work of art.

What would you rather be doing, at the moment?

I’m actually quite happy with everything I’m doing at the moment. It took a long time to get here, but it feels for now like I’ve arrived where I should be. Next up is traveling though, especially with my Instax by my side.

Any final thoughts you want to add?

I’ve fallen in love with analogue mediums like Instax, vinyl etc. Even though I’m a software engineer by trade, I find myself moving away from technology, or at least the way we currently use it.

I hope someone who reads this is inspired to go out and pursue a random passion, I didn’t think I’d be taking awesome pictures and then be featured in an article for it even just four months back, but here I am.

And lastly, please don’t let AI be creative (or do your thinking) for you - art is human expression and to think and express is to be human. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk!

Find more of Daddy Cool here:

Instagram: @daddy_cool_za

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