Behind The Scenes Of Stab’s Next Cover Shoot:

Stab is famous for its expensive taste and Cheap Trash. Bruce Irons with a flare on his board riding the tube at night. Surfing’s first studio shoot at a wavepool in the Canary Islands. Mark Mathews and Taj Burrow in a homoerotic double barrel shotgun at The Right in Western Australia. We like trying to make pictures that stop your scrolling and make you think: Is this possible? Is this photoshopped? Is this a glorious waste of time?

Anyways, we’re very passionate about the naming of secret spots. We’re very passionate about a surfer gent who rolls up to a break with very attractive surfing conditions, but Instagrams a photo before paddling out. And, we were very passionate about trying to change this culture. 

So, we decided to show our distaste through the type of thematic photoshoot we so love. We teamed up with Vodafone and their $5 Roaming product, and headed to New Zealand. It was the perfect locale for a concept shoot. We wanted to create 3D illustrations in the sand, and NZ’s three metre tides meant we had a serious canvas to work with. The idea was to stage a cover shoot that illustrated the absurdity of sharing imagery or locations that will only make the surf more crowded. We partnered with local 3D sand illustrator Jamie Harkins, surfer Ethan Ewing and creative Miles Pitt. 

Now, these shoots aren’t the easiest things to curate, which is where Vodafone’s $5 Roaming came in handy. It’s usually $5 extra a day to use our Red Plan in NZ (which is pleasing to our bank balance), but because $5 Roaming is free in NZ until 31/01/17 we used our plan data to check weather and swell forecasts, book hire cars and accommodation, use Google Maps, and… check our bank account$ (you see what we did there? Thanks, Vodafone). All using our normal phones as if we were at home. Which is kinda nuts, and removes one of the most painful inconveniences of surf travel. And, of organising grandiose surf shoots, if we’re honest. It’s available up to 90 days a year.

Did we get the shot? We sure had fun trying. You can see the results in an upcoming issue of Stab.

*Fineprint + terms: $5 Roaming available to eligible customers for use in selected countries. $5 daily charge is in addition to minimum monthly spend. $5 daily charge waived when roaming in New Zealand until 31/01/17 (unless extended). Customers who join or change to an eligible Plan will automatically be opted into $5 Roaming. All other eligible customers must choose to opt-in. Excludes Vodafone to Vodafone minutes for non-Red Plan customers. Full details at vodafone.com.au/roaming. Opt-out at any time, visit MyVodafone.com.au/ or call 1555. All roaming services subject to network availability. $5 Roaming ends 31 January 2017, unless extended.