Nilson Silva owner of Mastertouch Pools, a Parkland, FL based Pool Company – has fast become recognized as one of the industries leading pool designers. This incredible 3D entry showcases his adept ability and mastery of the industry standard in 3D rendering – Pool Studio. An expert at inground pool design and one of leading Parkland, FL pool builders, Nilson has been designing pools since his teens.

As a serial entrepreneur, Nilson is also an accomplished software designer. He recently created and released a Pool Service software that has taken social media by storm. The app called Routely is available for download in the iTunes store and has been downloaded and used by thousands of pool service companies across the country.

It’s an impressive resume that the young Parkland, FL native has developed. Not only running a successful and thriving pool company, but also releasing a hot new app that has developed fast adaptation and a loyal userbase.

Silva is being watched closely by industry experts who can’t help but to convey astonishment that he is wunderkind of sorts. His prowess as one of the industries leading pool designers is undeniable. This entry to Pool Designers – TOP Pool Designer competition symbolizes the sleek, elegant and sophisticated pool concepts being built in Parkland, FL today.

When asked why he has a passion for 3D design as his chosen art form, Silva replied:

It’s clear that this Parkland, FL pool builder has the innate ability to capture the essence of the outdoor lifestyle homeowners are looking for. Locals seem to love his pool designs as this has been without a doubt one of the companies busiest years to date. When asked if he attributes the success to the Covid-19 pandemic as many other local builders have, Silva replied “You know it’s funny because in our case, it’s been more sales from referrals from past clients this year than anything else. I feel like our success this year is mostly derived from the fact that homeowners in Parkland are starting to spread the word.”

Certainly an incredible entry by one of the most talented pool designers in Florida. View more great examples from hot new pool designers in Florida.

Parties interested in participating in Pool Magazine’s TOP Pool Designer competition should visit PoolDesigners.com who are administering the competition on behalf of Pool Magazine. Artists interested in participating in the competition can submit a 3d rendering or video for consideration as a candidate for Top Pool Designer. The winner receives a year long subscription to 3D Rendering Software Pool Studio as well as having their design showcased on the cover of Pool Magazine.

Luxury pools are all the rage right now. Building your own backyard resort has never been more popular than ever. While it’s not absolutely necessary to achieve a resort style look with a gunite pool, it’s often the go to choice for seasoned veteran pool builders.

Gunite Pools offer customization that you won’t find in a fiberglass pool. A gunite pool can be shaped into nearly any desired form. Because they are constructed of concrete they are remarkably durable.

Why are Gunite Pools so Popular?

Luxury pools incorporate many customization options. Customers opt for features like grottos, waterfalls, jump rocks, raised spas and custom shapes.

Please note that we are ommitting Vinyl Liner pools from this conversation. Typically you will not find a vinyl liner pool in many luxury homes. The split is fairly even 75% Gunite / 25% Fiberglass as of this writing. Vinyl Liner pools are a more budget friendly option.

Popular With Luxury Homeowners

Why are more resort style pools typically gunite pools? We asked a builder of luxury inground pools and gunite pool expert Aaron Rogers his viewpoint. Rogers had this to say on the subject of Gunite Pools.

Gunite Pools are traditionally the go to choice for most luxury pool builders. A gunite pool allows for more flexibility in terms of design and construction.

Aaron rogers – southern poolscapes

“Discerning customers with high end luxury homes want their pool constructed from the very best materials. Luxury home owners typically opt for a gunite pool. They know they are highly customizable and extremely durable.”

Fiberglass pools have certainly come a long way in recent years. There are manufacturers that have a deep catalog of fiberglass pool designs. Maintenance is often a factor of consideration. Are fiberglass pools easier to maintain?

We asked this question to Pool Service expert Jeffery Johnston, owner of Quality Clear Pools. We asked him as a pool service company, do Service technicians typically prefer Fiberglass pools over Gunite Pools?

Johnston has mixed feelings on the subject. He explained that they both have their benefits. Johnston said he could see why certain service companies may prefer a fiberglass pool at least when it comes to ease of maintenance. In fact, Johnston had this to say on the subject:

Gunite pools need to be properly maintained and are made of porous materials that can often be a breeding ground for algae.

Jeffery johnston – quality clear pools

Paul Putcher, owner of Pool Keepers a pool service company in East Texas agrees and said “I’ve been in the pool industry over 30 years. In my experience most luxury homeowners have a Gunite Pool in their backyard. This is often true even in fiberglass predominant markets. Pool maintenance costs aside, people want what they want.”

Most Popular Pool Type

Gunite Pools are the most popular inground pool type in America currently, at least when it comes to higher end homes. There is one undeniable fact though – Fiberglass pools are easier to factory mold and drastically cut down on how long it takes to build a pool. So why aren’t they more popular?

Gunite Pools vs Fiberglass Pools

Typically a fiberglass inground pool cost is the same as a gunite. There are certainly pros and cons in going with either choice. Cost isn’t much of a determining factor. We recommend if you are considering buying a resort style pool that you consider the following:

1. Is it important to you that your pool is highly customizable in terms of design?
2. Do you want the interior of your pool to have a smooth fiberglass touch, a plaster touch, or a pebble interior?
3. When it comes down to gunite vs fiberglass pools it’s really customization vs speed and ease of use. A gunite pool can be transformed into nearly any desired shape with any features you can imagine they do however typically require more maintenance than fiberglass pools.
4. With a fiberglass pool you will save on construction time, but may pay extra for logistics costs of shipping and placing the shell into the exacavated hole.

In closing, Aaron Rogers had this to say “The costs of transporting a fiberglass pool and having a boom crane operator swing this enormous fiberglass shell over the house are what put alot of homeowners off. That and the limitations on customization that you can do to the actual pool itself are what make gunite pools the most popular decision for luxury pools”.

Good quality and user-friendly devices make pool photography more receptive than before. Get to know the skills and considerations needed.

Technology gives no room for mediocre photography.

To start with, cameras are currently accessible, cost-friendly and convenient to use. What’s more, with drone technology more affordable to a majority, intriguing angle points are now attainable.

Second, with the increased popularity of the internet and social media, pool photography has become more significant. You may not require having all your pool constructions snapped professionally. It is, however, ideal for taking a snap and posting it on the platform of your choice.

In this article, pool photography experts give their advice on how to attain pictures that define your work, in your desired way. While there is no alternative for the experience and knowledge a professional can offer, these tips will assist you better your photographing skills.

Preparation

It may not appear essential, but it is important to take a couple of minutes arranging for the shoot. Know what you intend to capture. Figure out the type of background you’d like to exhibit.

Look around to understand how and when do the structures around toss their shadows over the swimming pool. Figure out if you’d like the shadows captured or not. Use the same approach for reflections and water glares. When is it appropriate, and when is it excessive?

Try out various angles for water features and other details you’d love to incorporate. Do not take the snaps straight-on, as the foreground and the background clashes and flattens onto the other.

Working from an angle gives you a 3-dimensional view. According to Shannon Henry, of San Diego-based Studio Carre Photographie, you can view the foreground as well as the background of the subject.

Don’t only focus on featuring normal elements such as waterfalls and vanishing edges. Focus on the pool lines as well.

Discover points in which the stronger lines will attract the eye to your desired focus. Henry uses the pool edges in this manner. He notes that the photo appears in a different way instead of it being flat.

In case of a competition, ensure you capture all necessary details needed in limited pictures.

Light and shadow

Light is the basis of pool photography. Juan Diego Ucros, president of Miami-based Hawk Vision Studios, urges that before taking any picture, ensure lighting is consistent. It should not be too bright or dull. Avoid snapping in the early afternoon, when there is high contrast between the light and shadow.

Boisclair adds that you should avoid snapping in cloudy conditions. The dim sky reflects on the pool, this makes the water seem unwelcoming, and the picture looks dull.

He further advises abstaining from snapping when the sun is behind you. A practical example is when taking a mountain shot, and the sun is facing your back. The snap taken will have no feel. It is important that you find a period during the day when the sun rays focus on the subject.

To minimize issues on glare and shadows during pool photography, you can have your shoot at nightfall as most of Boisclair’s clients love them. There’s something enchanting about it, and the snap is exceptional.

Alternatively, you can get a comparative quality by shooting at sunrise with some warm light. This moment is short-lived; therefore ensure to take your snap before it is gone.

A touch of expertise

For professional pool pictures, take your time to organize the shot. Survey the yard furniture to figure out what looks great and what doesn’t. Make vignettes with the alluring pieces, or even use nursery plants to enhance the frame appearance.

Furthermore, check if you’d need any color additions. Cushions, towels and pillows can be useful decors. Boisclair introduces nursery plants and places them in front of the camera to add some pomp to the image.

Consider what sort of water surface will be more appealing. Are there water features you’d prefer to see streaming?

Boisclair loves the inclusion of water disturbance for an extra feel and shimmer as well as an indication of hidden drains. If there is no such feature, he creates it himself and waits for the water to settle a bit before taking his snap.

According to Henry, this is not the best strategy. For contemporary, smooth designs, he takes the snap when the water is still, for better insight into the pool’s quality. In addition, this will give a clear view of the tiles and any other vital details. In case the focus is a water feature, he takes the shot when the pool is still and then another when the water is running.

Steady impact

Regardless of whether you’re taking the pictures with a phone camera, consider having a tripod during pool photography, Boisclair further adds. A tripod prevents blurry pictures when the photographer moves mistakenly. It’s also convenient in low lights as it can hold the camera for a longer time as you wait to get a clear focus.

Tripods likewise make it simpler to create the ideal shot. After taking a shot, survey it on your device and improve the piece with minor alterations, for example, a minor shift of the Equipment to the preferred side. This makes it easier to work on your errors earlier, as Boisclair recommends.