Atlanta, tThe eighth largest metro in the United States tends to fly under the radar for visitors who might reach first for New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles — but this city has so much: history, greenery, great food, and more film and TV locations than you can shake a camera at.
I met up in Atlanta with Holly Firfer, a colleague of mine at Scripps News, where she is a weekday anchor. She’s a self-described “damn Yankee” (Chicago via Detroit, married into Atlanta, and never left) — and she showed me why locals love this city. We began with a small lunch, and then a stroll down one of the great city walks, the 22-mile Atlanta Beltline.
Ponce City Market
The building has a wild history — a river promenade in the 1800s, a Sears Roebuck warehouse, a brief stint as City Hall — before developers transformed it into the city’s most vibrant eat-work-play complex.
The must-order: fried chicken from chef Linton Hopkins. Get the breast, the biscuit, the macaroni and cheese, the coleslaw, and the pickle. Eat it all. Holly insisted, and Holly was right.
The Atlanta BeltLine
This is my single favorite thing in Atlanta. The BeltLine is a network of trails, parks, and art installations built along a historic railroad corridor that loops around the city. On any given afternoon you will find joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, food trucks, and some of the best street art in the South. It’s also a great setting for selfies, as you can see in the episode.
Krog Street Tunnel
Holly returned to work and I kept walking. Just off the BeltLine, this graffiti tunnel is one of Atlanta’s most famous art locations. Anyone can bring spray paint and add to the walls — the result is a constantly changing, layered, explosive mural that would keep you busy for hours. Even if you think you’ve seen street art, this tunnel is something else.
The Silver Skillet
My next meetup was with Lee Thomas from the Georgia Film Office to talk about Atlanta’s role as the “Yallywood” of the South. She suggested we get together at the Silver Skillet, the diner that serves as “anywhere, USA” for so many filmmakers looking for the retro look. On 14th Street, this retro diner is so authentically old-school that filmmakers use it without changing a single thing. It has appeared in film and TV productions for decades. It’s my kind of place. The country ham with redeye gravy (ham drippings plus coffee — trust the process) is a Southern classic, even if I’m more of a grilled cheese guy.
Atlanta on Screen
Atlanta has been quietly building one of the most powerful film industries outside of Los Angeles since Georgia introduced its tax incentive program in 2008. The combination of diverse locations (mountains, coastlines, big cities, small towns), world-class infrastructure, and the world’s busiest airport has made it irresistible for studios.
The biggest production in Atlanta history? Not a Marvel movie — it was the final season of Stranger Things, which used locations all around the metro area, including Jackson, Georgia (which doubled for Hawkins, Indiana) and towns stretching from Rome to Griffin.
Other notable productions shot in Atlanta include Black Panther (High Museum of Art exterior), The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Swan House), Captain America: Civil War (Hartsfield-Jackson Airport battle scene), Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Remember the Titans, and the 2025 Superman film.
The Jackson Street Bridge is the photo stop for Walking Dead fans — and honestly, for anyone who wants the definitive Atlanta skyline shot. The view down the connector with the downtown skyline in the background is instantly recognizable. Come at golden hour or after dark when the city lights up.
10 Best Photo Spots in Atlanta
1. The Atlanta BeltLine: Three miles of trail, street art, food, and people. Your best all-around walk in the city.
2. Ponce City Market: The interior light, the neon, the food — it is all photogenic. Head for the windows for food shots.
3. Jackson Street Bridge: The classic Atlanta skyline shot, made famous by The Walking Dead. Best at dusk or after dark.
4. Piedmont Park: The lake-and-skyline view rivals any city park in America. Great for wide landscape shots.
5. Swan House: Elegant historic mansion. You may recognize it from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
6. The High Museum of Art: World-class modern architecture inside and out. The exterior appeared in Black Panther.
7. The Fox Theatre: One of Atlanta’s most beautiful buildings. Shoot it at night when it is lit up.
8. Krog Street Tunnel: Atlanta’s most famous graffiti location. A constantly evolving outdoor gallery.
9. World of Coca-Cola: Celebrates Atlanta’s most famous invention — and it is more photogenic than you’d expect.
10. MLK Historic Site: One of the most important historic sites in the country. Approach it with the reverence it deserves.
Selfie & Portrait Tips from the BeltLine
Holly and I stopped on the BeltLine for a quick portrait session, and here are the tips that came out of it:
Look at the lens, not the screen. The green dot on your phone is the camera. That is what you look at — not your own face on the display. The difference in eye contact is immediately visible.
Equalize heights. If you are significantly taller than your subject, sit down. It puts you on the same level and makes for a much more natural-looking photo.
Hold the phone up. Shooting from slightly above eye level is more flattering for everyone. Avoid the below-chin angle at all costs.
Find a clean background. A solid color wall or an uncluttered background makes your subject pop. Avoid poles, trees, or strangers walking directly behind someone’s head.
Use Portrait Mode. The background blur (bokeh) that Portrait Mode creates is genuinely flattering and gives phone photos a professional look. It is free and it takes one tap.
Shoot in shade, not sun. Open shade gives you soft, even light with no harsh shadows. Bright midday sun is almost always unflattering for portraits.
Atlanta is a big city that still feels, in some neighborhoods, like a small town. The food is extraordinary, the film history is fascinating, and the BeltLine alone is worth the trip. And my brother lives there, so I will definitely be back.