Jinki Cambronero Photography

10/10/2025

Metro magazine’s City Life photo series is a finalist in tonight’s Best Awards.

The first time I was asked to shoot City Life, I was on a boat, below deck. Recovering from seasickness, after a morning of chasing yachts for photographs. I was horribly ill, and nearly said no.

I’m so glad I said yes. 4.5 years and x17 City Lifes later, it’s great to see some of this work collated for Best. Thank you Kelvin for deciding to enter it. And to the team at Metro, for entrusting me with this for so long. I’ve loved the adventures, the challenges, and this wonderful way of getting to know Auckland better. All while being a part of the beautiful Metro team. A career highlight.

p.s. Metro magazine’s redesign is in four categories for the awards. An epic project, for a beloved cultural insitutiton.

Design agency:
Client:
Creative directors: Sam Wieck
Awards category: Design Craft/Photography

02/06/2025

National Animal Rights Day (NARD), 1 June 2025. Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, New Zealand.

An action organised by Waikato Animal Save + the NZ arm of NARD.

Solemn speeches, with glimmers of hope. Reminders of realities, for animals in the systems that exploit them.

This post highlights the diversity of people who act for animals. To challenge stereotypes.

I remember being in Australia, visiting family. Sitting in the lounge room, with the telly on. It was National Animal Rights Day and I was a newby activist. Protests around the country were on the news. The activists were going big. National. Organised and loud. The narrative focussed on demonising the activists and their disruptions. They did not seriously address the why — hash tag nothing to see here folks, the activists have got it wrong, ). Purposefully feeding into stereotypes that compel people to yell things like “Losers” and “Get a job” at activists, protesting, even though it’s the weekend.

One day I’d like to do a project that shows the diversity and humanity of animal rights activists. I’m pretty sure it spans the widest of worlds, given the universiality of caring about animals.

For more information, watch Dominion – an Australian documentary released in 2018 by Chris Delforce. “The film exposes the many ways in which animals are regularly misused. A total of six facets are illuminated: farm animals, wild animals, companion animals, entertainment animals, fur animals, and animal experimentation.” — https://www.dominionmovement.com/watch

Or look at the work and are doing.

.zealand

18/12/2024

City Life. Shop fronts, Karangahape Road, Auckland Central on Friday, 22 November 2024. Street photography for . Printed in the bumper summer issue, which is out now.

The first look is always exciting. To turn a page and see an image, across two pages. Big and IRL.

This image makes me smile. The juxtaposition of elements that feel like a sign of the times. The door handle almost out of frame. If you look closer, a love heart has been drawn on the model’s nose. I bet the 🤍 drawer was pretty happy with themselves as they left the scene.

When I included this as an option for City Life, I wondered if it was too weird. So I was tickled when picked it. I love it when people I work with like the weird too.

16/12/2024

12/12/2024

Prize Bundle #4 (out of 6) in raffle fundraiser for Palestinian artists.

Donated by Asian artists in Aotearoa. With much heart and soul in every crafted item.

5 days left to enter. Link in bio.

Photographed on a Sunday. Expertly styled by . With help from .ta and .aanika.

Glad to be able to do something material for Palestine IRL. And learn of / connect with like-minded creatives.

Artists of items pictured: .glass .shim .

23/10/2024

The Bloom. By Jessie McCall. A collaboration with RDYSTDY. Featuring dancers Sofia McIntyre, Sasha Matsumoto and Raven Afoa-Purcell. With team members Izzy Robinson and Jeremy Collie-Holmes.

The Bloom debuted as part of Pride Elevates 2024 here in Tāmaki Makaurau earlier this year (with all proceeds going to Gaza). A few days ago The Bloom at Dance House was awarded Judge’s Pick at Melbourne Fringe. And tonight they’re opening at the Performance Space Liveworks Festival of Experimental Art in Sydney.

We made these images on a Sunday night. I love the energy we captured. Something in between a studio shot and the stage. A simple set up brought to life with Jessie’s costuming, styling, direction and vision. And the dancers, as always, bringing all of their selves. It has been exciting to see these images representing this work overseas.

Jessie is a creative powerhouse, and Sofia, Sasha and Raven are mesmerising on stage. I adore working with these special people, and seeing what they make. I hope we’ll get to see the show again here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

.lane

.melb

08/01/2024

Rodeo protest. Mid-Northern Rodeo, Whangārei, Northland, New Zealand. Saturday, 6 Jan 2024.⁠
⁠
Direct Animal Action have been arranging protests at rodeos every summer since 2015. This one was busier than usual, marketed as a family fun day, with a bouncy castle and the like. ⁠
⁠
As I walked towards the protesters, a young man and his child pulled over in their car to ask “is the rodeo was up there?”. I sensed this was purely about an outing. I felt sad that cruelty probably hadn’t even crossed their minds. ⁠
⁠
These are always peaceful and well organised protests. Run by people I respect, trust and like. There’s always a possibility of abuse. As one man was leaving, he leaned out of his car window to let us know “It was violent. And I loved it”.⁠
⁠
__⁠
General info from ’s website:⁠
⁠
“Every summer, countless animals are subjected to fear, distress, risk of injury and death – all for the sake of ‘entertainment.’ ⁠
Despite the fact that rodeos are condemned both in New Zealand and internationally by veterinarians, animal welfare agencies and ex-rodeo riders, around 30 rodeo events occur every summer across the country. ⁠
⁠
A number of countries have banned the practice, and specific events such as calf roping and steer wrestling are often outlawed on the grounds that they are cruel. ⁠
⁠
Animals can sustain injuries such as torn ligaments, broken bones, bruising and internal damage. In some cases, these injuries are so severe the animals die or are killed on site.”

02/01/2024

A BTS from the Auckland Arts Festival shoot, late in 2023, with Demetrius Savai’inaea + City Beats.

Have you ever wanted to learn to drum? This BTS photo from our photoshoot is inspiring us to start the New Year by registering for City Beats our drum lesson of epic proportions with Demetrius Savai’inaea. All you need to bring is yourself, maybe a bucket or a percussion instrument if you have one (but not necessary) and join in the fun. 16 March, Aotea Square, link to register below.
https://form.jotform.com/233041348078050

Image description: Demetrius Savai’inaea is sitting on a stool surrounded by different drums. He has a black shirt on and a black Ula Fala around his neck, he is playing the drums and smiling. In front of him is the photographer taking his photo.

24/12/2023

1. Falun Dafa Tian Guo Marching Band. Farmers Santa Parade, Customs St East, Auckland. Sunday, 26 November 2023. Shot for Metro magazine’s City Life section.

2. All Star Cheersport (outtake for City Life).

3. Honey Pot float. John Martins Bank SA Adelaide Christmas Pageant, 1995. Screenshot from video of televised event, uploaded by on YouTube.

I can’t remember the last time I went to a xmas parade. I think it may have been when I was in one, in my teens, in the 90s. The John Martins Bank SA Adelaide Christmas Pageant. The float was the Honey Pot. Assigned character — Girl, in cyan dress with cartoon flowers, like Little Bo Peep. Smiling and waving through the discomfort of new shoes, and blisters forming. Exhilarated by being part of magic I enjoyed as a child, and the exchange of energy.

November was City Life time. Wondering where I’d find an image for the next issue, I saw signs on Queen Street. Special Event, Santa Parade, Sun 26 Nov. Light bulb moment.

When I arrived, expectations did not align with reality. My plans of where to go and how to get my shot needed revising. Too many people, not enough vantage points, to capture something close but far, without getting trapped. I walked, until I found a place that could work. Positioned myself and held my ground, while other people / photographers jostled for position. At one point, I let a stranger encroach into my space so much, his lens hovered over my shoulder. If he had lowered it slightly, I would have been a human tripod. I didn’t protest. When you need to get your shot, you need to get your shot.

I was drawn to the uniformity of the marching band. When the cymbal player’s face lit up from bouncing sunbeams, I followed them.

A google search tells me “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, the principles of the traditional cultivation practice Falun Dafa, guide the Tian Guo Marching Band”. I was pleased to find values that resonated.

Towards the end of the parade, I left my position to move towards the finish line. Hoping to find something unusual. On the way, I found this image of the All Star Cheersport team, mid air. I like the juxtaposition of elements you wouldn’t expect to see together. Construction and cheerleading.

Thank you Simon Chesterman and Henry Oliver of Metro magazine — for another year of making images I’m proud of, in the way I enjoy best — with room for chance, with people I like, respect and am proud to work with. I appreciate the way these assignments enable me to get to know Auckland and its inhabitants better too.

07/08/2023

I’d been looking for a street scene for Metro magazine’s City Life section, winter edition. ⁠
⁠
Drawn to Wynyard Quarter, with the aim of finding a waterfront city scene in warm late afternoon light. Operating on instinct and hope. Which morphed into slight panic when there was nothing to be found. I left reminded of how difficult street photography can be when you’re relying on luck and light. ⁠
⁠
As I was driving home, I was struck by this scene. A bus stop, illuminating people in waiting. Graphic lines and repetition. A scene of everyday life, made intriguing by the time of day. I knew this could work for City Life.⁠
⁠
I returned the next day. And settled in across the road before sunset. Seating myself on the ground, and against the wall, with my knee as a tripod. Kind passersby, asking if it was ok for them to walk in front of my camera.⁠
⁠
It’s interesting seeing how light changes a scene, and how quickly this happens as the sun goes down. I liked the warmth and dramatic shadows pre sunset, but settled on this shot, with it’s delicate balance of light. Delighted by the purple pink sky echoed in the poster in frame.⁠
-⁠
Image shot on Friday 9 June 2023, 17:36 on Fanshawe Street / Victoria Park.⁠
-⁠
The winter edition of is out now.