Rebecca Blissett remembers growing up with a pool in the backyard of her family's South Surrey home, but the thing sure wasn't used much.

Usually, because the pool was so darn big and difficult to keep clean, the water was an unattractive dark-green colour.

Blissett and her family moved into the house when she was 13.

"The pool that came with the house was apparently the cause of divorce for the previous owners," Blissett said. "The husband had won a small lottery and used the money to build a huge pool in the backyard."

So, rather than brave swimming in the bug-infested backyard pool, Blissett and her fellow teen friends would gather at the cheerier public pool up the road, at Sunnyside Park.

This is where Blissett's fascination with pools began.

This month, the pro photographer reveals a series of scenes from outdoor public pools as part of her first exhibit, "Pool Life," at Visual Space Gallery in Vancouver, from Nov. 15 to 17.

The exhibit includes 20 of her intriguing images, all shot on film, plus two lightboxes.

Blissett shot the photos at three Vancouver-area pools over the past couple of summers, after venturing to one of them with a friend.

"I was struck by the pool scene - everybody crammed in together on the cement decks," she said. "There are the regulars who've been using the pools for years, and nothing much seems to have changed over the years. This past summer, my friend saw the same lifeguard at New Brighton (pool) from 15 years ago. They're a throwback to another time."

Blissett, an Earl Marriott Secondary grad, is busy on the photography scene these days shooting band portaits (for album covers and publicity purposes), concerts and fashion. Her work is online at www.rebeccablissett.com.

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tzillich@thenownewspaper.com

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