Photo Taken by Lance Long of LongShots Media
Atlanta, Georgia is a bustling city that offers a wide range of subjects for photographers to capture. The city is home to many iconic attractions that are popular among visitors and locals alike. One of the most popular locations for photographers is the Centennial Olympic Park.
Photo Taken by Lance Long of LongShots Media
The park was built for the 1996 Olympics, and it features a number of iconic landmarks, such as the Fountain of Rings, the Georgia Aquarium, and the World of Coca-Cola. The park is also a popular spot for events and concerts, providing photographers with a diverse range of subjects to capture. Besides the iconic and visited visited Olympic park, Atlanta has a variety of photo-worthy locations for photographers to explore.
This list will introduce you to 3 underrated locations in Atlanta that you may have never heard of.
Dearborn Park
Tucked away alongside the winding curves of Midway Woods in Decatur sits Dearborn Park. This location features a running river with a wooden bridge, peaceful benches, a playground, a basketball court and walking paths.
Family Photo at Dearborn Park in Decatur, Georgia captured by Lance Long of LongShots Media
Once you venture down the main walking trail, you see amazing tall trees with large rocks that sit alongside the river. This spot is excellent for trailing water shots.
Photo of Dearborn Park in Decatur, Georgia captured by Lance Long of LongShots Media
Family Photo at Dearborn Park in Decatur, Georgia captured by Lance Long of LongShots Media
Not only is this location great for landscape and macro photographers, it is also great for portrait and family photographers as well. If you can bring portable power, you can have a multi-light setup at this location with no problem. For most shoots at this location, I opt for an on-camera external speed-light as well as a reflector on a stand.
Family Photo at Dearborn Park in Decatur, Georgia captured by Lance Long of LongShots Media
Rodney Cook “Peace” Park
This Location is named after the Georgia Icon Rodney Cook Sr. and is rather new to the Atlanta scene, as it was built in mid 2021. Situated just a few blocks from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, this 16-acre park offers a place to play, exercise, and relax.
Rodney Cook Sr Park by Lance Long
Awesome perks of this location feature a large playground, splash pad, workout equipment, and a green space. This can be a family photographer’s paradise with so many live backgrounds to choose from.
Portrait at Rodney Cook Sr Park by Lance Long of LongShots Media
With so much to offer, I can easily see this location becoming my go to spot when booked by west Atlanta clients. Portrait, Commercial and Fashion shoots can easily be managed at this MARTA accessible public location.
Folk Art Park
Nestled within a busy intersection in downtown Atlanta, sits Folk Art Park. Which was the Georgia Department of Transportation’s first public art project. Reclaiming several leftover portions of two cement highway bridges above Downtown’s north-south interstate connector.
Folk Art Park captured by Lance Long of LongShots Media
Back in 2014 I would operate the video camera during church services at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Which is located just 5 mins driving distance from this location and is home to the Martin Luther King National Historic Site.
On the way to service one Sunday morning, I rode my bike right thru this “hidden in plain sight” photography gem. Immediately, I hopped off the bike and snapped a few pics. There has yet to be an opportunity for me to use this location during a paid shoot, but I will definitely keep suggesting it to my Portrait clients.
Overall, this location features busy city scenes with tall buildings, highway overlooks and bustling traffic. If you are on a photo-walk near Downtown Atlanta, this would be an awesome place to stop and take a few pics.
Conclusion
DragonCon Photo captured by Lance Long of LongShots Media at Woodruff Park in Atlanta
Popular locations are great for iconic portfolio shots, but less populated locations also have much to offer. Being able to take your time and develop your shots without interference is a blessing for the patient photographer.
Photo of Rodney Cook Sr Park by Lance Long of LongShots Media
On your next photo walk, check out one of these underrated locations in Atlanta. Remember to share your photos by reviewing the location listing directly or by posting your photos to the community wall.
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