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Top 15 Spots to Photograph in Atlanta

Mike Lindle

Written and Photographed by Mike Lindle

Atlanta, dubbed the Hollywood of the South, is a fairly recent tax haven for film productions. It’s no wonder, Altanta has a one-of-a-kind skyline, a restaurant scene to rival NY / LA, and beautiful looks littered throughout the city.

Here are a few stills I shot over the course of week spent in Atlanta. I’ve also included a few tips, the gear I used, and how to get to each location using Google Maps.

Piedmont Park Midtown Reflection

Located just 1 mile NE of downtown this stunning public park offers gorgeous views of the city’s skyline.

Atlanta Marriott Marquis - Interior

Sitting at 53 stories, the Marriott Marquis is Atlanta’s 14th tallest skyscraper. Originally designed by John C. Portman, Jr this building completed construction in 1985. Since it has a wide base and siknny top it is often called the Pregnant Building. Upon completion, this atrium was the largest in the world.

  • Pro Tip - Book a stay here to have nearly unlimited access to the building. If you don’t stay here security is usually pretty lax with photographers during regular hours.

  • Cost - Free

  • Camera - Nikon D750

  • Lens - Sigma 14mm f/1.8 Art

  • Location

Jackson Street Bridge

A classic Atlanta skyline view over the freeway, this is a look recently popularized by The Walking Dead.

  • Pro Tip - Make sure to snag your spot early, this location fills up fast with other photographers and space can be limited.

  • Cost - Free

  • Camera - Nikon D750

  • Lens - Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G

  • Location

The XX Bridge

Simply put, this is a pedestrian bridge that connects two parking garages and acts as a MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) stop.

  • Pro Tip - Time your shoot to avoid rush hour. This bridge fills up with pedestrians that are exiting / entering the station.

  • Cost - Free

  • Camera - Nikon D750

  • Lens - Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G

  • Location

Views Over Centennial Olympic Park

Climb to the top of this parking deck and be rewarded with views over Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

Peachtree Center Station Escalator

Another common view among commuters, this escalator leads you to the street from Peachtree Center Station.

Top of Marriott Marquis

Here’s a special north-facing view of Atlanta, as seen from the top of the Marriott Marquis building. There aren’t many ways up here, you could send a drone up, book a room and beg for a high floor, find your way on the roof, sometimes you can even get lucky and ask a cleaning staff politely if you can take photos out of the window of a room on a high floor.

Jackson Street Bridge Lookback

Shot from a drone, you can actually see the other side of the Jackson Street Bridge shot, looking back on the freeway with Jackson Street Bridge in the distance.

Peach St Parking Deck Staircase

A popular location for urban-grit photographers, come to this parking deck to photograph the grimy spiral staircase.

Little Trouble Neon Sign

This hip nightclub / bar / lounge has an astonishingly protected neon sign. Make sure to come early in the evening if you want to photograph their sign, this places tends to fill up pretty quick after dinner.

The Georgia Aquarium

This used to be the largest aquarium in the world since opening in 2005 to 2012, boasting 10 million gallons of water in their tanks. It is however still the largest aquarium in the US.

Hyatt Regency Interior

This view is often overlooked since few open-air atriums are as impressive as the Marriott Marquis. Though if you’re in the neighborhood, nothing should stop you from entering this hotel and marveling at the Hyatt Regency atrium as well, it’s a mere 2-3 blocks away.

Top Down of Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Send the drone up to get this compelling view over the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This stadium is also known to open-up almost like a folded origami when the conditions are right.

  • Pro Tip - Be safe and avoid flying over crowds of people!

  • Cost - Free

  • Camera - Mavic 2 Zoom

  • Location

Marriott Marquis Lookup

A nearly hidden view located right next to one of the most popular architecture views in Atlanta, go to the side of this building to find this lookup, nestled on the Marriott employee’s smoking area.

Atlanta Skyline View

Another view from the drone, this shot allows the skyline to evenly space out among the skyscrapers.

If you enjoyed this article, feel free to check out our Aerial and Timelapse YouTube Channel!