The Walking Dead Escape

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Let it be said that I love zombies and by association The Walking Dead, both the comics and the television show. So I was super excited to be asked to photograph The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta on Saturday. Hundreds if not thousands of people came to downtown to participate as either a walker (zombie) or as a runner (a term I use loosely as this was not an actual race). Makeup artists, some of whom have worked on the television series, added blood and gore to numerous people as they were transformed into walkers before the majority of participants were let loose in waves of 25 to make their way up, down and through the arena, immersing themselves in a zombie outbreak. It was definitely one of the highlights of my day!

Stephanie Anderson (left) applies makeup to Sean Henderson's face to make him look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Stephanie Anderson (left) applies makeup to Sean Henderson’s face to make him look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Alex Petty (right) applies makeup to Lauren Dobson's arms and hands to make her look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Alex Petty (right) applies makeup to Lauren Dobson’s arms and hands to make her look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Greg Bivens (left) applies makeup to Jay Klapper's face to make him look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Greg Bivens (left) applies makeup to Jay Klapper’s face to make him look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Kasey Kyner (left) spreads her arms as Jason Feeman applies makeup to make her look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Kasey Kyner (left) spreads her arms as Jason Feeman applies makeup to make her look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Amy Poole (center) has blood applied to her neck and face to make her look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Amy Poole (center) has blood applied to her neck and face to make her look like a walker during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Kristina Ballenger (right) has blood applied to her hands and arms to make her look like a walker by Stephanie Anderson (left) during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Kristina Ballenger (right) has blood applied to her hands and arms to make her look like a walker by Stephanie Anderson (left) during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Dressed as walker Varsity employees, Katie Smith (center) sits with her parents Ed and Suzy as they wait for the start of The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Dressed as walker Varsity employees, Katie Smith (center) sits with her parents Ed and Suzy as they wait for the start of The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Pam Bryan (right) crawls past Phillip Hoke (top) as he tries to infect participants during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Pam Bryan (right) crawls past Phillip Hoke (top) as he tries to infect participants during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Jennifer Cook (center) runs past walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Jennifer Cook (center) runs past walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Valerie Hall (top) reaches down to try and infect participants as they make their way through The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Valerie Hall (top) reaches down to try and infect participants as they make their way through The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Robert Murcia (center) runs past walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Robert Murcia (center) runs past walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Phillip Hoke (top) reaches down to try and infect participants as they make their way through The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Phillip Hoke (top) reaches down to try and infect participants as they make their way through The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Dan Hunt (center) and his son Shamus (front) run past Daniel Corbett (right) and other walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Dan Hunt (center) and his son Shamus (front) run past Daniel Corbett (right) and other walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Meghan Baptie (center) yells at participants to keep moving as they make their way past walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Meghan Baptie (center) yells at participants to keep moving as they make their way past walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Gio Dunn (center) runs past walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Gio Dunn (center) runs past walkers during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Made to look like a walker, Justin Bailey (left) eats an unlucky patient during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Made to look like a walker, Justin Bailey (left) eats an unlucky patient during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Made to look like a walker, Jennifer Emerson lumbers around waiting for participants during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Made to look like a walker, Jennifer Emerson lumbers around waiting for participants during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Aisha Davis (center) runs past walkers and survivors during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Aisha Davis (center) runs past walkers and survivors during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Made to look like a walker, Jason Roby lumbers around waiting for participants during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Made to look like a walker, Jason Roby lumbers around waiting for participants during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Simone Daniels (center) runs past walkers and emergency rations boxes during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Simone Daniels (center) runs past walkers and emergency rations boxes during The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

D.L. Maffett (right) is checked for infection in a quarantine tent as he completes The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

D.L. Maffett (right) is checked for infection in a quarantine tent as he completes The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Chris Hornby (left) has his infection level checked by Luke Tieslau as he completes The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Chris Hornby (left) has his infection level checked by Luke Tieslau as he completes The Walking Dead Escape event at Philips Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, May 31, 2014.