An embodiment of the NikonGear coming-together spirit

[Bjørn Rørslett]

We all knows what follows when fellow NGers team up. Merriment, enjoyment of photography and of life in general, and bouts of creativity unleashed.

A typical example is this iconic shot from the gathering of the Core Team in 2011 (sans Jan Anne, but Jakov more than made up by bringing an entire suitcase filled to the brim with empty beer and soft-drink cans).

We toyed around how to utilise all the stuff at our disposal. Building 'sand'castles with the cans at the beach was less simple than anticipated due to buffeting wind gusts. So we ended up with an indoors shoot instead, stripping Jakov down completely nude and putting him in the bath tub. An IR-modified Nikon D200, my recently CPU-enabled Nikkor 18 mm f/4 lens, and Erik's stack of Elinchrome studio flashes did the rest. OK, we need to include Jakov's stamina, because even empty cans do hurt when you are the model and somebody empties a suitcase of cans over you  . Kudos to Jakov for making this shot coming alive.

[Erik Lund]

The byline could be; Hangover Shower

Yes this shot captures what it's all about when we meet up - Unpredictable creativity

[elsa hoffmann]

Absolutely love it. the shad of pink is quite suitable.

[Jakov Minić]

You lunatics!
 

[Frank Fremerey]

I guess on arrival the cans had not been empty?

[armando_m]

I can almost hear the clanking of the cans

[Erik Lund]

Jakov arrived at CPH Copenhagen Airport with an oversize suitcase checked in... yes, full of empty cans... imagine my surprise when I took hold of it

In Denmark you get money back from the aluminum cans so as they are recycled... but only if they are marked otherwise they are just waste...so sweet of Jakov

Anyway, at this particular try of emptying the cans out of the suitcase and onto his head... yes, it took several try's to get it just right one of the cans hit the sweet spot on the cranium with a very loud CLACK and the reaction is captured here for you all to enjoy 

[ColinM]

Great image, great additional commentary from Eric

Part of me is slightly disappointed that Jakov isn't sitting up to his knees in beer......but I guess that would have been a waste

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Remember his massive efforts the previous 10-12 months in emptying all those cans.

[Jakov Minić]

Erik mentioned only one part of the story.
Once upon a time I was in CPH and we were drinking beer (out of a can).
I drank mine and I crushed the can as I sometimes do after I finish a beer.
Erik jumped and screamed: "No, what are you doing? That can costs money!
Jakov said: "The aluminum is still here, can't you recycle it when squashed?"
Erik replies: "No, the can has to be intact!"
Go figure...

So, when I got back to The Hague, I did as everybody else would do, I started collecting empty cans because such policy doesn't exist in NL. I don't recall exactly but it did take quite a bit of time to fill up the suitcase and wait for my opportunity and the next trip to CPH.
Erik was surprised that I had a suitcase at all, let alone the largest I could get my hands on, because I came only for a weekend visit. Of course, as soon as he picked up the suitcase he realised that something was wrong because it was light (I couldn't crush the cans, you know why)...

The rest is history, already well described, so I ended up with a lump on my head...
Not to mention that we didn't get a penny for all those cans...

I must have a photo of the suitcase somewhere. If I ever find it, I'll post it here. I can't even remember when it was?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Glad to help you out there, Jakov. The shoot took place in beginning of December, 2011.

A series of snaps from the beach where we valiantly tried to build a can castle under very windy conditions are presented below.