19/06/2026
Auckland Photo Day 2026 – CBD ‘Grocery Run’ takes out top prize!
Winners have been decided, by judges for the 2026 Auckland Photo Day, who were impressed with the high standard and range of entries this year. Judges were Cathy Carter, artist, Dean Purcell, NZME lead Photojournalist, Janette Dalley, Director Visuals, Freelance.
This year’s winner speaks to the art of nipping out to the shop for supplies, captured outside a fresh produce store busy with shoppers in the CBD.
1st place – Lambert Laluz (Massey) – Grocery Run - 1st Prize
Lambert says “I started photographing after lunch, hoping the afternoon sun would create interesting patches of light and shadow around the city. As I was walking along Elliott Street, I noticed a beautiful golden beam hitting the entrance of the grocery store, so I decided to wait for an interesting subject to pass through the frame. Soon enough, a nicely dressed lady doing her grocery shopping entered the store, so I patiently waited for her to come back out. For me, this photograph captures daily life, not just in Auckland, but anywhere.
We all move through daily tasks, big or small, each with its own purpose. To freeze such an ordinary moment in this way hopefully gives anyone looking at the image a chance to appreciate that even the simplest moments can be beautiful. I’m truly happy to have won first place.” Lambert wins a brand new Fujifilm X series half camera.
Our judge’s comment: “There was such a diverse range of images from across the whole of Auckland. We found it challenging to narrow down to the top images, then delightfully settling on the winning image outside a city retail market, with many layers and depth of elements involved, neon lights drawing lines for the viewer to focus on the composition and single shopper but with others coming into view. Iconic elements of a grocer’s, fresh markets in Auckland, which is part of a quintessential Auckland weekend.”
Lambert Laluz Photography
