It’s all about capturing that perfect shot! That’s pretty much how aspiring photographers think when they visit a location. When you combine this with an avid traveler, it’s critical that you are aware of the best spots in a destination to capture those amazing memories. We have put together a list of the best photo spots in Atlanta that you should plan on visiting the next time you head to the Georgia capital.
During our recent visit to Atlanta, we decided to head out and explore in search of these all important spots that you cannot afford to miss.
Where to Explore in Atlanta?
Whether you love modern architecture, history or perhaps rural beauty within an urban setting, there is a myriad of locations scattered around the neighborhoods of Atlanta that should capture your attention. The following list barely touches the surface of what there is to experience in Atlanta, so we encourage you to get out and begin exploring.
Regardless of your interests, Atlanta is an intriguing city with so much to discover. The city is beautiful both during the day and at night with a variety of spots on our list that provide contrasting photography opportunities with varying amount of daylight. If you are an avid historian or just love American politics, perhaps heading over to the Georgia State Capitol will be an intriguing proposition.
The downtown neighborhood offers plenty of unique photography spots though perhaps you will find more intriguing shots in the historic Fourth Ward district or by Atlantic Station. To reiterate what I mentioned, this post only gives a very high-level overview of some of the most infamous shots you can find in Atlanta (along with a couple of hidden gems that you should consider checking out).
Let’s take a look at our top 5 spots based on our recent trip.
Jackson Street Bridge
Do you ever find the perfect locations to take a picture are almost impossible to access? If you love capturing city skylines, we have the perfect place for you to snap Atlanta’s iconic panoramic landscape and one that is relatively quiet.
Jackson Street Bridge is perfectly located across the Freedom Parkway allowing visitors the opportunity to capture the very best view of Atlanta’s downtown skyline. I am a huge modern architecture aficionado, so any chance I get to see contemporary skyscrapers and skylines from a perfect location, I am raring to go.
Unfortunately, this is not one of the hidden gems any longer as it is an incredibly popular spot for visitors, especially photographers, who want to capture an amazing image. Whether you want to visit early in the morning to capture ‘The Golden Hour’ or perhaps wait until the evening to snap a sunset picture, Jackson Street Bridge is definitely a place you should experience.
We visited on two separate occasions, in the morning and again at night, and on both occasions aside from a couple of other photographers it was a relatively quiet experience. Be sure to follow directions closely as it’s not the easiest location to find but once you find it, you won’t regret the effort it took to create those amazing memories!
Location
Click Here to Open Google Maps for directions to Jackson Street Bridge
Historic Fourth Ward Park
A short drive (or walk) from Jackson Street Bridge offers a very different but equally beautiful opportunity to capture an image of the Historic Fourth Ward Park.
This area has been transformed into a rural greenspace in the heart of Atlanta and today offers a relaxing environment for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the gorgeous surroundings.
A two-acre lake is the focal point of the Historic Fourth Ward Park along with an amphitheatre setting at one end that provides a perfect location for events. Walk all around the park and capture a variety of angles, each creating a perfect spot to take another memorable photograph.
At the other end of this park is a world-class skatepark that Tony Hawk contributed $25,000 to its construction and provided high praise of this. Whether you have any interest in testing your skateboarding skills, this is another unique aspect of the park that makes it an appealing attraction for visitors.
From the top of Rankin Street, the view across the Historic Fourth Ward Park is breathtaking. We parked on the side of the road though admittedly parking is very limited here and be sure that you are in a legal space before heading out to explore.
Location
Click Here to Open Google Maps for directions to Historic Fourth Ward Park
Krog Street Tunnel
Atlanta has a wealth of amazing street art and probably the most famous location throughout the city for capturing the best artists work is Krog Street Tunnel.
Connecting the Cabbagetown and Inman Park neighborhoods, the Krog Street Tunnel may not appear at first sight to be a spot where you would want to explore given the dark depths of the tunnel.
This is a pedestrian-friendly tunnel that many locals frequent and as we explored the amazing artwork, we noticed a number of bikers and walkers passing through without a second thought.
I am not sure this is a place where I would recommend visiting after dark but during the day it’s an intriguing location to take a variety of pictures representing the best graffiti Atlanta has to offer.
Be sure to walk along Wylie Street after passing through the tunnel because the epic wall art continues here.
Location
Click Here to Open Google Maps for directions to Krog Street Tunnel
Bank of America Plaza
If you love skyscrapers, you will quickly realize why the Bank of America Plaza is a must-see landmark. Capturing a close-up shot of this iconic structure is certainly something you should accomplish as you make your way around Atlanta.
We captured a shot of this building from North Avenue as we left the Historic Fourth Ward district in search of our next amazing photo spot.
It didn’t take us long to stumble across a great location to capture the Bank of America Plaza but given that this is the tallest skyscraper in Atlanta, standing at a little over 1,000 feet, it’s one of the easiest landmarks to see from a variety of spots around the city.
Location
Click Here to Open Google Maps for directions to Bank of America Plaza
Atlantic Station Park
Our final location on this quickfire photo journey around Atlanta saw us find another quiet spot which is perfect to relax after a long day exploring the city.
Atlanta Station Park (simply known as ‘The Commons’ on Google Maps) is another redeveloped park with a gorgeous pond and bridge providing a perfect backdrop for pictures.
Visitors can be seen shooting engagement and senior pictures here and clearly with good reason. Adjacent to the idyllic bridge and pond is the Millennium Gate, an $18 million arch designed to create a peaceful reflection on this part of the city.
Take some time to just walk around the perimeter of the park and enjoy the beauty within the confines of the landscape in front of you.
Urban parks are an integral part of any city and generally offer a great place for photography with the backdrop of a skyline or stereotypical city landscapes nearby providing a perfect contrast to the relaxing environment of the park.
Location
Click Here to Open Google Maps for directions to Atlantic Station Park
Summary
When looking for the best photo spots in Atlanta, it’s inevitable that we will all have very different opinions. Depending on the type of photography you prefer to shoot, Atlanta is fortunate to have a wide array of landmarks and attractions that are attractive options for photo enthusiasts.
We hope that by highlighting our top 5 locations (or at least the ones we visited during our recent trip), you will be inspired to check some of these out and perhaps discover some of your very own favorite spots.
Of course, locations like the World of Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park are popular attractions that should be considered but clearly, Atlanta is a city spoiled for choice.
If you are limited by time constraints, we strongly encourage you to check out the locations we mentioned…we don’t think you will be disappointed!
What are your favorite spots around Atlanta to find your perfect picture?