Name: Tyrone Ping

Place you live: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Occupation: Digital Marketing Manager

Preoccupation: Photographing and chasing after reptiles.

Place your photos were taken? KwaZulu-Natal

Can you sum up Durban? Durban is the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal, known for it’s relaxed beach-side culture which has almost perfect sunshine almost 365 days out of the year. With high humidity and summer temperatures for close to 10 months out of the year, Durban’s culture is centered around being outside enjoying the beaches and coastal forests that wrap around the coastline.

A vibrant mix of cultures has created a diverse city with people from all over the world which have created an eclectic mix of places to go out to, eat and enjoy the weather being outside.

What is a perfect day in Durban? Heading out early in the morning before the heat sets in finding a couple of animals to photograph and getting in some quick forest missions to escape the heat of the day.

If Durban was a person who would it be? Stacy Peltra from Lords Of Dog Town, super relaxed and nonchalant lifestyle

Do you shoot with your phone or other cameras or both? I only shoot with my iPhone for Instagram (and always have) for all my reptile photography I shoot with a Canon 7D

What is your editing process? I mainly use selective adjustments using Snapseed on my iPhone and create my own presets.
When it comes to DSLR photography Lightroom and Photoshop are my go to.

Can you give a couple tips to aspiring Instagram photographers? Find your own style and niche things you like to shoot. Learn about light and how to use it to your advantage – never use your phone’s flash. To focus your photos tap on the screen and select your focus you’ll be amazed how much it helps. Don’t kill your photos with filters Don’t just follow the trends you see on Instagram and shoot the same things in the way as everyone else.  We’ve all seen it and it’s boring to the average Instagram user.

Who are your three favorite photographers?
Charlotte Little Wolf, Jono Swart, Fran Venter

What is the most amazing travel experience you’ve ever had?
Traveling across Namibia last November where you drive 100’s of kilometers without seeing another car or person is insane. The main objective was to travel across Namib searching for reptiles and landscapes. A country of harsh contrasts from wild coastlines, freezing oceans to barren desert dunes in a few hundred meters from each other is unreal.

Want more Instagram tips and inspiration? Check out all of our Best of Instagram features and learn from the masters.

Want to be featured on our best of Instagram series and bask in the glory? Follow Global Yodel on Instagram and tag your best local shots with #GlobalYodel!