John Fulton

Putting Possibilities into a Single Frame

By Daniela Cintron

Published April 1, 2025

Atlanta streets pulse with creativity, from Cabbagetown’s graffiti-laden tunnels to Midtown’s glossy skyline. Its artists, entrepreneurs and cultural torchbearers shape its evolving narrative. Capturing this energy in a single image for “Colors of Atlanta” is no easy feat, but for photographer John Fulton, it’s a challenge he embraces with artistry, precision and a profound love for the city he calls home.

A Journey from the Rockies to the ATL

Fulton’s creative path began far from Atlanta’s urban sprawl. Raised in Loveland, Colo., he grew up surrounded by the sweeping plains and rugged mountains. The outdoors were his playground, providing a setting that fostered his deep appreciation for visual storytelling.

“I spent a lot of time backpacking and exploring,” he recalls. “But it was in high school that I first fell in love with photography, the darkroom, specifically.”

The magic of developing film sparked a passion, leading him to study the medium more seriously. As he immersed himself in photography’s history, he was drawn to the raw, unvarnished beauty of street photography by French artist Henri Cartier-Bresson.

“The way Cartier-Bresson mathematically composed his images — using geometry and light to capture fleeting moments — was mesmerizing to me,” Fulton says.

After spending eight years in Savannah, he and his wife relocated to Atlanta. Drawn by its vibrant arts scene and cultural diversity, they found the city to be more than just a place to live. It was fertile ground for creativity.

Atlanta as Muse: Finding Stories in the City

For Fulton, Atlanta is both canvas and subject. The city’s blend of old and new offers limitless opportunities for visual exploration.

“Atlanta is this beautiful combination of history and innovation,” he explains. “The old architecture and the constantly evolving skyline, it’s a visual representation of the city itself.”

But it’s the people that truly inspire him. His environmental portraits highlight individuals in their element — musicians, artists and everyday citizens framed by the spaces that shape them.

One of his most iconic images captures a bass player from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performing in Krog Tunnel, a famed stretch of street art in the city. The musician, who composed a piece dedicated to the tunnel’s artists, stands in the colorful underpass, his instrument echoing through the graffiti-streaked corridor.

“That image is special to me because it merges two powerful forms of expression: music and street art,” Fulton says. “It’s a tribute to the creative heartbeat of Atlanta.”

Crafting a Visual Love Letter to Atlanta

When asked to create a singular image encapsulating Atlanta, Fulton knew it had to be more than just a portrait. It needed to tell a layered story.

“Trying to represent Atlanta with one image felt impossible,” he says. “So, rather than a single-subject shot, I decided to build a larger narrative: a scene with multiple people representing the city’s diversity and energy.”

Fulton took a composite approach to execute this ambitious vision, creating a multi-dimensional tableau.

He chose the rooftop of Ponce City Market as the backdrop, a fitting symbol of Atlanta’s evolution. The historic building, once a Sears distribution center, is now a bustling hub of food, retail and culture.

Rather than photographing everyone together, John captured each subject individually in a studio setting. This allowed him to control lighting and consistency, ensuring every element seamlessly blended into the final composition.

The final image came to life through meticulous post-production, with Fulton layering each subject into the rooftop scene. The result is a visual mosaic with a grand narrative of smaller vignettes.

“I wanted the image to feel alive, to draw people in,” he explains. “The goal was to create something that, at first glance, feels like a single moment, but as you look closer, reveals a series of interconnected stories.”

Capturing the Spirit of a City

At its core, Fulton’s image captures the essence of Atlanta: its creative soul, diversity and constant evolution.

“Atlanta is special because every story is represented here,” he says. “No matter what you’re into, you’ll find your people in this city. It’s a place where cultures converge, old and new meet, and creativity thrives.”

Learn more about other talented photographers featured on “Colors of Atlanta” and watch the TV series.

Daniela is the content manager and bilingual editor for Discover Atlanta. As an award-winning bilingual journalist, she is passionate about shinning light on untold stories about culture, food and Atlanta.