Rough Draft photojournalism intern Ansley Kelly is part of the 2026 Atlanta Press Club cohort of summer journalism interns placed at local news organizations. As she heads into her senior year at the University of Georgia to complete a degree in journalism, Ansley shares some of her most memorable photo assignments from the summer.
This summer, I started my internship at Rough Draft Atlanta hoping to gain real-world experience as a photojournalist to better understand what it means to work in a newsroom. Throughout the summer, I photographed everything from concerts and soccer games to community events, World Cup celebrations, and everyday life around Atlanta. My time covering Atlanta and the metro area reinforced my belief that good photojournalism is not just about capturing a technically strong image, but about recognizing the moments, people, and details that help tell a story visually.
This internship also helped me become more confident in my ability to work independently, find impactful images to shoot, and adapt to different kinds of story assignments.
As I continue studying journalism at the University of Georgia, I hope to build on those skills and pursue a career that combines photography and reporting, with a focus on telling stories about communities and the people who make them unique.
Below, you’ll find a few of my favorite photos from summer assignments with Rough Draft Atlanta.
I kicked off my internship by photographing the Atlanta Jazz Festival at Piedmont Park, a free three-day festival held over Memorial Day weekend that brought music fans together, despite the rain. This was my first time photographing a concert from a media pit, and I loved being able to get close to Esperanza Spalding (pictured) and capture the energy of her performance. It was also one of the first moments during my internship when I really felt like a working photojournalist, and I was proud of how this image turned out.
I also photographed Atlanta Streets Alive along the West End to Grant Park route, where streets were temporarily closed to vehicle traffic and filled with activities, performances, and people enjoying the city. This was one of the first times I covered a community event in Atlanta, and I loved seeing so many people come out and take part. I especially like this photo because the artists singing drew people in and created a crowd of strangers who stopped to listen together.
I took this photo while covering Atlanta Streets Alive on May 31, toward the end of the event as a group of musicians played together as a marching band. A dancer (pictured) led the group as they made their way down the street. This photo captures the spontaneity of the event and the energy that came from seeing music, dance, and community come together in the middle of the street.
Decatur FC faced Nashville Rhythm FC at Decatur High School on June 6, with fans filling the stands to support the team. I love this photo because it shows how important it is for local athletes to have people show up and support them, while also capturing the energy that made these games so much fun, from the drumming in the stands to the chants throughout the match.
A closer look at the action from Decatur FC’s June 6 match against Nashville Rhythm FC. I love this photo because it captures the intensity of the game, as Maggie Wadsworth (pictured in black) fights for the ball while surrounded by opposing players. Covering these games was one of my favorite ways to challenge myself as a photographer and get more comfortable anticipating and capturing fast-moving action.
I took photos of the FIFA Fan Festival in Centennial Olympic Park throughout the World Cup tournament. This particular photo shows fans gathered to watch Spain play Cabo Verde on a Thursday afternoon. To me, this photo captures the best part of the World Cup being in the U.S. because it shows thousands of people coming together in downtown Atlanta to cheer for their countries and share in the excitement of a soccer game.
I photographed World Cup watch parties throughout the tournament, including this one at Brick Store Pub in Decatur. Tony Lazcano celebrates an Ecuador goal with his friends, while a woman wearing a Germany jersey looks over at the celebration and smiles. I love this photo because that small interaction feels like what the World Cup is all about to me: people from different countries and backgrounds coming together to share their love of the game, even when they are cheering for different teams.
This is another photo of fans at the FIFA Fan Festival as they watch Spain play Cabo Verde. I love this moment because it shows how people can experience the same moment in completely different ways. One fan puts his hands on his head in frustration, while his friends look at each other, disappointed by the play but still smiling, creating a small moment of connection in the middle of the crowd.
Beyond the FIFA Fan Festival, I also photographed Decatur WatchFest, where fans gathered for live music before staying to watch the United States play in the World Cup on June 25. Mark Davidson caught my eye because of his enthusiasm for the U.S. team, wearing his gear and proudly showing his support for his country. I loved capturing this moment because it reflected the excitement surrounding the World Cup and the way the tournament gave people an opportunity to come together and celebrate being American.
I took one of my favorite photos at an Egypt fan march, as supporters made their way toward Atlanta Stadium before a World Cup match. At the end of the march, fans gathered outside the stadium, where they lit a flare and raised their hands beneath the Egyptian flag. I love this photo because the flare, flag and crowd create such a powerful image of pride and excitement, and it captures the energy of the fans right before they entered the stadium.
While working on a story about Atlanta Chinatown, I photographed some of the businesses inside the mall in Chamblee. I especially like this detailed photo from Family Baking because the focus draws attention to the individually wrapped buns, while the out-of-focus shelf adds depth to the image. It is a simple scene, but the composition makes it one of the most visually pleasing photos I made for the story and one that I am especially proud of.
One of my favorite moments from Spencer Strider’s vinyl giveaway kickoff was photographing Tavern Breakfast (pictured) as they performed at Criminal Records. I especially like this photo because Trevor Griffin’s expression captures the emotion and energy of playing music for a crowd, while the light from the window draws attention to his face. I also love the composition of him looking toward another band member, which makes the photo feel connected to the performance happening around him.
One of the most meaningful events I covered after the World Cup was the unveiling of a new soccer mini-pitch at Sandtown Park in South Fulton. I love this photo because the smiles and expressions from Tyler Adams (pictured in the white t-shirt) and the community leaders capture how meaningful the new space was for the neighborhood and for kids who now have another place to play and learn soccer. After spending so much of the summer covering the World Cup, this event also showed me how its impact could continue beyond the tournament by creating more opportunities for young people to get involved in the sport.
Along with covering events and stories, I spent a lot of time this summer photographing locations around Atlanta for the Rough Draft newsroom’s photo archive. I especially like this image because the symmetry of the structure and the quiet moment of the two boys sitting in the Active Oval at Piedmont Park create a simple but visually pleasing composition. It was also fun to use the file photos as a photography exercise, looking for interesting lighting, composition, and moments even when I wasn’t covering a specific story.
Another part of my file photography assignments was documenting historic and significant locations around Atlanta, including Ebenezer Baptist Church. I especially like this photo because it shows the historic church surrounded by the changing city, while people continue to pass by. The new Ebenezer Baptist Church stands just across the street. Photographing locations like this also gave me the chance to explore parts of Atlanta I might not have otherwise visited and see how the city’s history continues to exist, alongside its growth.
At SnapCo.’s Forever Paradise Gala, Toni-Michelle Williams (pictured) announced the organization’s plans for Providential Paradise, its future permanent home in South Fulton. I love this photo because Williams brought out vials of dirt from the newly purchased land, turning the announcement into a tangible symbol of change and new beginnings. The moment was an emotional one for Williams and the people who have built SnapCo., making it one of the most meaningful images I photographed this summer.
Lastly, this file photo assignment took me to the Atlanta Beltline, where I photographed different areas along the trail. I especially like this photo because it shows how people can use the Beltline not just to walk or exercise, but to stop, relax and spend time at the shops and restaurants along the route. It was another opportunity to look for those small moments that show how people interact with Atlanta’s public spaces.
