A few evenings ago, we attended what needs to become a regular camera club field trip into the future.  That would be the annual Silver Spring Zombie March across downtown on the Saturday night before Halloween.  It’s been going on for years and is reported to be the best of its kind in the DMV area.  Here’s how it all went down.

At the appointed gathering hour of 7 p.m., there were exactly three zombies and six photographers.  The latter represented a wire service, some websites, and personal interests. All were togged out with two major cameras each, one with a wide lens, the other with a telephoto.  We looked like TMZ stalking the Kardashians.

By 8 p.m., Arts Alley was filling out with zombies and other human flotsam.  The wire service guy was looking for political statements; he eventually went home disappointed, as neither candidate showed up in any number.  One fellow wore a rubber Donald Trump head-mask but took it off mid-evening: he said it felt like a sauna in there.  No one looked like, or alluded to Hillary.  Or Anthony Weiner.

Promptly at 9:00, the assemblage was called to order and the march began, departing from Denizen’s Brewery, where many a thirst for blood was slaked.  With, umm, beer.  And proceeded along Georgia Avenue to the big plaza downtown, Silver Spring’s answer to Times Square, where our paraders mingled and posed for the Saturday night party-people.

We, the camera corps, exercised our photo skills in many ways.  Capturing colors, for instance: blood there was aplenty, but also brains, entrails, and body parts to render accurately.  Kept us working the white balance buttons.  Some makeup jobs were excellent.  There are, we were told, whole stores that specialize in Halloween costumery, especially zombie accoutrements.

There was action also, so we were mindful of shutter speeds and ISOs.  Fortunately zombies move pretty slowly, usually dragging one leg and shuffling along.  But the occasional lurch would sometimes throw us off, resulting in a blurry picture – alas.  And zombie protocol requires one to walk with at least one hand fully extended, throwing off the autofocus of the unsuspecting.  Again, a fuzzy photo.  Again – alas.

So the event presented its challenges, but also produced rewards beyond our dreams.  And nightmares.  Behold some moments from the evening.

This kid wielded a mean chainsaw.  The zippered face effect was new to this writer.

 

A girl administers an anti-zombie virus as they pass a restaurant in Silver Spring.

 

Entire stores sold out of red paint.  Ages were actually tilted more toward adults.  About 100 souls marched.

 

This guy had not only a fantastic makeup job, but also a voice thingy that allowed him to make horrifying screaming noises.  He scared the jeepers out of onlookers on Georgia Avenue.

 

Here is another fabulous makeup job.  Note the fingers and face are all in focus, so no bouquet for my bokeh.  I’ll keep it anyway.