Empty Pool Photography

J Bennet Fitts' 'No Lifeguard on Duty' Captures the End of Summer Fun

J Bennet Fitts' photo series called 'No Lifeguard on Duty' focuses entirely on empty pools. It's a haunting set of images, for a number of reasons. Seeing an empty pool reminds me that summer's fun has ended, but I also wonder about the pool's owners. Have they emptied the pools because they're headed to their winter chalets, or because they've been foreclosed upon and have moved out?

Click through the gallery above to see more images from J Bennet Fitts' 'No Lifeguard on Duty' series. What narratives can you imagine for each pool's owner?

Abandoned Pool Spaces
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating a new line of urban furniture/decoration using repurposed pool components to revive abandoned pool spaces into functional urban design.
Destigmatizing Pool Closures
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing an online platform that connects government agencies and local residents to repurpose and transition closed pools into community-centric urban amenities for recreation and education.
Pool Preservation
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating an AI-driven automated system that monitors and manages neglected pools to maintain safety and integrity while reducing water and maintenance costs.

Sectors Adopting This

Urban Design and Architecture
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introducing a new line of urban furniture/decoration using repurposed pool components to revive abandoned pool spaces into functional urban design.
Government and Civic Services
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing an online platform that connects government agencies and local residents to repurpose and transition closed pools into community-centric urban amenities for recreation and education.
Real Estate and Property Development
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporating pool preservation AI technology to create environmentally conscious and sustainable practices in the real estate and property development industries.
SCORE
0.7 out of 10
GENDER
70% Men30% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, Europe, Asia
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 7%
Activity 5%
Freshness 8%

Solutions for innovators working at the edge of change. We help transform emerging ideas into practical, durable solutions by combining strategic thinking, creative exploration, and hands-on execution.

Trends © 2026 Trend Hunter Inc. All Rights Reserved.
LinkedIn Instagram X