Walking Dead – Broad Ripple Style

Can I suggest visiting a dentist?

For the second year I went to the Broad Ripple Zombie Walk exclusively to photograph the event.  This is a really fun event that gives participants the opportunity to get their zombie on and to benefit Gleaners Food Bank.  This year’s event took place the weekend before Halloween.  The event is hosted by IndyMojo.

 

I would guess about 500 people showed up.  I arrived early and picked up my media pass.  I brought the following kit knowing there would be bright light ending-up pitch black: 

·         Nikon D300s

·         AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8

·         AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8

·         AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8

·         Nikon SB-600 speedlight

·         4 sets of Sanyo Eneloop batteries

Soon after I got myself organized people started to show up.  Most came with their zombie make-up already on, or took advantage of the 3-4 makeup artists.  People could get made-up for free at the event.  Early on people simply walked around talking, listening to the DJ, dancing, or just looking at other people’s make-up.  Some people were SERIOUSLY into the event and had amazing make-up.  

 

Like, "what-everrr"

Seriously, awesome!

Smile for the camera

I started off with a Nikkor 24-70mm lens asking zombies if I could shoot their street portrait.  Everyone was in a good mood and obviously, had absolutely no problem letting me shoot them (sorry, photography them).  After about an hour I switched out to my Nikkor 70-200mm lens so I could get some tighter shots.  While it was still bright outside I shot in Aperture priority with f/stop in the f/2.8 – f/4 range.  The goal was to get shallow DOF for all street portraits.

 

By the time it got dark the place was hopping & PACKED.  Just like a scene from The Walking Dead.  So cool, and fun to watch everyone get into it.  There were kids, families, young couples, hipsters, older couples, couples with babies, singles, you name it.  The event attracted all types.  And let me tell you, people were seriously getting into their makeup.  Some were professional grade.

 

Child's Play

Starting 'em young



You looking at me, you looking at me?

Sorry for interrupting your conversation, seriously

Soon after it started to get dark it was time to do the zombie walk.  This is when everyone walks through the streets of Broad Ripple showing off their stuff.  What a blast.  I switched into my Nikkor 35mm, opened the aperture as wide as possible, and mounted my Nikon SB-600.  I used a large diffuser on my speedlight to get soft indirect light.  I know you aren’t supposed to do it, but the speedlight was mounted on the camera.  Please forgive me!  Anyway, I jumped ahead of the horde, parked myself behind a tree and fired away as the zombies walked by.  It was fun.  The only problem I noticed is that I think my focus point must have been off.  I normally shoot center-point focus and recompose, but I think I must have had my focus point to the left of center, because I had about 30% of my images focusing in to the left of my subject.  With such a shallow DOF this was a problem.  However, I took tons of photos so I still got quality images during the walk.

 

KISS fan

The Corporation is here

Seriously creepy

Time for a mind meld

After about 5-6 hours I called it an evening.  The event was fun and a real photo rich environment.  

 

After action tips for you fellow photogs: 

·        Learn your camera.  In an event like this you don’t want to be fiddling with your kit.  Especially when it gets dark,

·       Remember, people are made up so they WANT to be photographed.  Take advantage of the opportunity.  Only a few people asked me what I was going to do with their image,

·       Bring good glass.  When it gets dark you need your lens to focus pronto, 

·       Go light.  I wanted to, but still had a full backpack.  After a few hours you start to feel it,

·       Talk to the other photographers.  I chatted up a few photogs that I had seen around, but never met.  I like to talk to people especially if I know there is a common interest.

·       Sacrifice ISO for shutter speed.  This event called for tack sharp.

 

 

Portait Time

America's Top Model, zombie-style

Oh no, the military is infected

 

Zombies vs. A Human Photographer

Living Dead Girl

I recently photographed the 2011 Broad Ripple Zombie Walk and Prom.  This fun event benefiting Gleaners Food Bank was a mix of costumes, make-up artists, music, dance, food, partying and ZOMBIES.  The event is held a couple of weekends before Halloween in Broad Ripple, an Indianapolis hip suburb.  The event starting in the Kroger’s parking lot includes a food donation drop-off (10 cans of tuna fish earned me a cool t-shirt), zombie makeup by local make-up artist, a Zombie Wedding (yes, a real wedding where the bride, groom, priest, & wedding party dressed the part), dancing to a DJ, a Zombie Walk through the streets of Broad Ripple, a Zombie Feast with participating eating establishments & bars, and Zombie Prom at Tru nightclub.

I met up with several local photographers to shoot the event.  Earlier I had snagged a Media Pass, so I was able to roam with immunity.  It was my zombie shield.  After hanging out with my photog colleagues for the first 30 minutes we set off on our own.

Pie Eating Contest Winner?

You Do Not Have Permission To Take My Photo!

Wow, what an event.  It was PACKED with about 1000 people in all forms of costume and make-up.  Some as basic as some face paint to full on freak-fests of zombism.  Some were truly nasty looking.  It was uber.  You got the sense some people were having way too much fun dressed up.

This Is Wrong At All Levels

Feeling A Bit Green

I brought full camera kit with me as I knew I would be faced with extreme sun, shadows, low light, street lights, and then full dark.  Also, I wanted to reach out and touch with my long lens and get in close for head shots … the only way to take down a zombie!!  Also, I brought a speedlight, diffuser & plenty of spare batteries.  My kit for the shoot: 

·         Nikon D300s

        ·         Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro AF Lens

·         AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

·         AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G prime

·         Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X Pro DX

·         Nikon SB-600 speedlight

·         6 sets of Sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries

The entire night was shot in full manual so I could adjust shutter speed and the aperture.  Knowing I was going to be in strong light with shadows moving to darkness I wanted to manage aperture, shutter speed & ISO myself. I focused on 1/100 shutter speed as my slowest speed throughout the shoot and change aperture to get the desired DOF.  That means I sacrificed ISO (and noise) as my 3^rd variable.  ISO went from 200 early on up to 1250 before it got dark.  It worked out well.  As it started to get dark (when the Zombie Walk kicked off) I popped on my speedlight and moved ISO back to 400.  Throughout the night I adjusted white balance to match the lighting.  I used presets most of the time and a few times used the kelvin setting and set the color temperature based on experience.

Makeup Artist?

My weapon of choice throughout the night was my trusty Nikon D300s.  I started off with my Tamron 70-200 f/2.8.  This lens is very solid in good lighting environments, but a piece of junk (OK not so good) in low light settings.  It doesn’t have VR which limits it to tripod use in low light and it just doesn’t focus fast enough.  I really need to suck it up and buy a Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VRII.  After about 30 minutes I shifted to my Nikkor 24-70mm to take advantage of a wider zoom.  Finally, when the Zombie walk started I switched to a Nikkor 35mm prime to take advantage of the wider aperture and the lightning fast focus.  Also, since I was taking extremely close-in street portraits the 35mm (53mm effective with a cropped sensor) focal length was perfecto.  I ended up not using my Tokina extreme wide angle mainly because I wanted to focus on close in shots.

Zipper Face

Bad Day In The Office

Overall, a great night and tons of fun.  I ended up spending about 5 hours shooting in different venues, different lighting, with / without shadows, and with tons of people dressed the part & really into the event.  What more could a photog ask for?

A few comments / tips:

·         If you have the opportunity, get a press or media pass.  I did and it was extremely helpful.  I was able to get into all venues with no drama and shoot everyone without a single, “I don’t want you to take my photo”

·         Come prepared for all types of light.  I went from uber bright to pitch black with all forms of mixed lighting and shadows mixed in.  Basically, if you know it’s going to be dark bring your brightest lenses.

·         Remember to watch where your shadows fall.  A shadow tends not to show up until you plop your image on the computer and slap yourself on your forehead.  Throughout the event I was very aware of where my shadows fell and what effect I wanted.

·         My general rule of thumb is people who dress up (or have loads of tattoos) want to be photographed.  Take advantage of it.

·         Watch where you’re standing.  I had a big backpack and the setting was tight.  More than a few times I smacked into someone when turning around. 

·         Get in close.  Some of my best zombie portraits were taken less than 24 inches away.

Way Past His Bedtime!