Auckland Festival of Photography’s annual 24-hour day in the life of Auckland -  Tāmaki Makaurau competition took place over 24 hours Friday 6th to Saturday 7th June, with the hundreds of entries submitted adding to an archive of more than 15,000 unique images of Auckland -  Tāmaki Makaurau taken since the competition began. 

Pleased to announce our 2025 Auckland Photo Day winner, 1st place is Sarah Macmillan with her photo “After Rugby Practice”. 

Taken Friday 6th June

Sarah, a grandmother and avid photography enthusiast, says "Can’t believe it, it was such a fluke that I was there, as my daughter was stuck in traffic Friday afternoon and asked me to go and pick up my grandson, who is 11 years old after his rugby practice at Silverdale Rugby Club, so I wasn’t expecting to be there and I didn’t use my DSLR as I didn’t have it with, this was taken on my phone!". Sarah wins a brand new Fujfilm X series half camera.

Our judge’s comment: “A everyday scene of a child after a sporting event in Auckland's North Shore, the photographer capturing a fleeting image of this kid's journey. The composition is excellent: lots of angles and geometries, shades of green and the child's posture, as if burdened by the expectations of what the day might hold. The sign on the nearby container saying, 'You Can Do Anything', while a cherry picker and a sewer sit on the upper frame add a touch of humour and depth.” Judges for the 2025 Auckland Photo Day were Alex Burton, Photojournalist, Janette Dalley, Director Visuals, Freelance and Federico Monsalve, former editor D Photo Magazine.

2nd place - Jiongxin Peng - Take a Group Photo - 2nd Prize 2025 Auckland Photo Day

Taken Saturday 7th June

Jiongxin said "This photo was taken at Hobsonville Point, on Saturday morning after the market in the morning, this was a family moment being shared with a 'selfie' of the group. I like the group scene and it’s a photography moment, so it’s really good to win this prize"

Judge’s comment: "Candid and relaxed, this image demonstrates a good command of technical skills. It stands out as an excellent example of street photography, capturing a moment that invites the viewer to ask questions — about the scene, the people, and the unfolding story. The judges appreciated how it reflects the rich multicultural character of the City of Sails."

3rd place - Best new U25 - Nathan Smith - Jaguar - Best New U25 Prize 2025 Auckland Photo Day

Taken Saturday 7th June

Nathan said "I run this event, Motor Sport Club from University of Auckland at Smales Farm, Takapuna, it’s a car fan meet up where everyone enjoys looking at these classic motors, I was documenting the event, and this one was a spur of the moment shot of this awesome car".

Judge’s comment: "Shows strong lines and clever use of framing and colour to incorporate both people and car".

Congratulations to the winners and those selected in our annual Top 30 collection for Auckland Photo Day. We hope you enjoy the judge’s picks.Thanks to Fujifilm NZ for the prizes.

If you want to be the judge you can vote in our People’s Choice prize for your favourite photo from the judges long list, they selected these from all entries and so it's your turn to pick your favourites. The announcement of 2025’s Auckland Photo Day winners marks the end of 2025's successful festival, which included more than 85+ online, in venue and outdoor exhibitions across the region, including many exploring the ‘Sustain’ theme. Some exhibitions continue this weekend Festival events and activities can be found on our calendar.

ENDS