Northern California Underwater Photographic Society (NCUPS)

Northern California Underwater Photographic Society (NCUPS) Northern California Underwater Photographic Society (NCUPS) was formed in 1957 to promote interest in underwater photography.

NCUPS sponsors educational events on both underwater photography and video.

Judging the 2026 Monterey Shootout: Behind the Winning Images.7:30pm FridayGo behind the scenes as judges from the 2026 ...
08/13/2026

Judging the 2026 Monterey Shootout: Behind the Winning Images.

7:30pm Friday

Go behind the scenes as judges from the 2026 Monterey Shootout revisit this year’s award-winning images and videos. We’ll discuss what made the winning entries stand out, the creative and technical decisions that separated the best from the rest, and the lively debates that took place when the judging panel couldn’t immediately agree. From storytelling and composition to originality and ex*****on, you’ll get an inside look at how the final decisions were made—and why some categories sparked passionate discussion. Whether you competed or simply love underwater imaging, this is a rare opportunity to hear the judges’ perspectives on what it takes to create an award-winning image.

Where: Join us in-person at Backscatter OR online via Zoom!
🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
Time: Aug 14, 2026 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89702951328?pwd=TW1Be5GIsV1a55WvPRBZiJoLg1agaK.1

Jeremy Jodoin:Generating Functional Maps For DiversJeremy says: I’ll be presenting my process for creating utilitarian m...
06/28/2026

Jeremy Jodoin:
Generating Functional Maps For Divers

Jeremy says: I’ll be presenting my process for creating utilitarian maps for divers. I’ll be explaining the technical aspect of gathering data from noaa and google earth, as well as the more artistic aspect of using my own photos and videos as reference and occasionally photo scanned assets. I’ll discuss the decisions I make to simplify high resolution bathymetry to create a map that tries not to intimidate and overwhelm the user. My focus on large landmarks, and simple-navigation centric thinking. I’ll also be showcasing some of the gear that I really love, and make my productions possible, most importantly DPV setup and 360 cameras.
About Jeremy:
Professional character artist for video games, hobbyist photographer and videographer. He’s been diving only for a little over 3 years. Having discovered a real passion for the underwater world he’s spent a couple hundred hours a year underwater during that time. He started uploading to Youtube to show off to family and friends, but it quickly morphed into an excuse to spend more time underwater, and became a great outlet to share the info gathered through my experiences. He focuses on dive site tutorials, especially shore diving. His work is made unique through his use of technical equipment, DPVs, and digitally modeled and rendered maps of his favorite sites.

Meeting Logistics
Meeting starts FRIDAY at 7:30pm (Pacific Time!) at Backscatter in Monterey and online via zoom. (link below). I strongly urge you to log into zoom by around 7:15 to make sure there are no zoom difficulties.

Where: Join us in-person at Backscatter OR online via Zoom!
🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87038342414?pwd=hqHlN0NhYGbLMeuUWKsAOcE3rYK2ll.1
Meeting chat link
https://us06web.zoom.us/launch/jc/87038342414
Meeting ID: 870 3834 2414
Passcode: 156486

06/12/2026

Get creative with us TONIGHT at June meeting of The Northern California Underwater Photographic Society (NCUPS), hosted by Backscatter!

We're excited to have Ron Watkins presenting via zoom on in-camera tips, tricks, toys & techniques. We will also be hosting a watch party in the shop with drinks and snacks.

📅 Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
🚪 Doors Open: 7:00 PM Pacific Time
🎤 Presentation Starts: 7:30 PM Pacific Time
📍 Where: Join us in-person at Backscatter OR online via Zoom!

🔗 Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84553800196?pwd=h58ji6MfSBaAdbLYSJQ6RcitUetv87.1

Meeting ID: 845 5380 0196
Passcode: 978657

Award-winning underwater photographer, writer, speaker, and instructor Ron Watkins is an adventurer with a passion for capturing incredible images—and helping others do the same. As a Backscatter Photo Professional Affiliate, Ron leads photo trips, reviews gear, and teaches photography workshops around the world.

His work has earned honors from competitions including Underwater Photographer of the Year, Ocean Photographer of the Year, and Nature's Best Photography Awards. Through his photography and storytelling, Ron inspires others to explore, appreciate, and protect our oceans. 🌊📸🦈

See you there!

June 12: Ron Watkins: Creative In-Camera Tips, Tricks, Toys and Techniques. Ron will be joining us by zoom. There WILL ...
06/11/2026

June 12: Ron Watkins: Creative In-Camera Tips, Tricks, Toys and Techniques.

Ron will be joining us by zoom. There WILL be a watch party at Backscatter in Monterey.

Ron Watkins is a photographer, writer, public speaker and photography instructor specializing in underwater and topside nature photography. Ron is known as an adventurer who is passionate about sharing his knowledge of photography and gets as much of a rush from nailing a shot as teaching someone else how to do the same. As a Backscatter Photo Professional Affiliate, he leads trips, reviews gear and is a photography workshop Instructor. He currently resides in Pennsylvania, USA with his lovely wife Manomi, handsome black lab Atlas and mischievous cat Finn.
Through his creative imagery and stories, Ron hopes to raise awareness of the beauty of our oceans and challenges facing its fragile ecosystems and threatened marine life. He often shares his passion for the ocean by presenting on marine life, conservation and, one of his favorite subjects, sharks, to Sharks4kids and other groups.
Ron has been an award-winning photographer for over 20 years and most recently winning awards in the prestigious Nature’s Best Awards, Underwater Photographer of the Year, Ocean Photographer of the Year, Our World Underwater, World Shootout, Ocean Art, and The Digital Shootout. His imagery and stories have been featured in numerous publications including Oceanographic Magazine, Alert Diver, Ocean Geographic, Scuba Diving, Scuba Diver Ocean Planet, and Unterwasser.

Zoom link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84553800196?pwd=h58ji6MfSBaAdbLYSJQ6RcitUetv87.1

Meeting Logistics
Meeting starts FRIDAY at 7:30pm (Pacific Time!) at Backscatter in Monterey and online via zoom. (link below). I strongly urge you to log into zoom by around 7:15 to make sure there are no zoom difficulties.

earned the 2025 NCUPS photographer of the year award.
02/12/2026

earned the 2025 NCUPS photographer of the year award.

earns 2025 photograph of year with this at a tide pool.
02/12/2026

earns 2025 photograph of year with this at a tide pool.

Join us next Friday, Feb 13th for a deep dive into the glowing world of Fluorescence Photography with Jim Decker. Whethe...
02/09/2026

Join us next Friday, Feb 13th for a deep dive into the glowing world of Fluorescence Photography with Jim Decker. Whether you want to learn the technique or just see some mind-bending images, you won't want to miss this.

We are also excited to announce the winners of both the January and February monthly competitions! A huge thank you to Thomas Anderson for judging this round. 🏆

📍 Where: In-person at Backscatter OR Online via Zoom ⏰ When: Friday, Feb 13th 💻 Zoom Doors: 7:00 PM 🎤 Presentation: 7:30 PM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81280731347?pwd=pwk8YelNZOtMgLSQwEDzGuM0KDJRsE.1

Meeting ID: 812 8073 1347 Passcode: 780612

NCUPS has a new president: Becca BoringRaised on wreck diving and photography Becca Boring has been the Operations Manag...
01/08/2026

NCUPS has a new president: Becca Boring

Raised on wreck diving and photography Becca Boring has been the Operations Manager of Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo since 2013 and serves as a board member for The Breakwater Collective. She is passionate about documenting and helping others capture the beauty of the underwater world and proud to be part of the historic NCUPS community.

Welcome aboard the board.

In-person (and Zoom) NCUPS meeting. Friday Jan 9. 7:30pm. film medium. Speakers: Chuck Davis, Robin Robinson, Ryuijie, E...
01/05/2026

In-person (and Zoom) NCUPS meeting. Friday Jan 9. 7:30pm. film medium.

Speakers: Chuck Davis, Robin Robinson, Ryuijie, Effie Benjamin, and Joe Platko
Bringing it back to our roots: a discussion with a panel of talented underwater analog shooters including Chuck Davis, Robin Robinson, Ryuijie, Effie Benjamin, and Joe Platko.
We’ll check out some of their work and talk history, gear, technique and more. Come with questions! Snacks and drinks provided for those attending in person.

Zoom link:

https://ncups.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3eb0a21e2fd4932fa52d5dffc&id=1635845c18&e=532f9b74a1

Nov 11, Mackenzie Massey - God’s Pocket (Zoom)Mackenzie says: Fresh off a trip to the incredible God’s Pocket Resort in ...
11/11/2025

Nov 11, Mackenzie Massey - God’s Pocket (Zoom)

Mackenzie says: Fresh off a trip to the incredible God’s Pocket Resort in British Columbia, I’ll be sharing highlights from our underwater explorations — the incredible marine life we encountered, and a few elusive creatures we hoped to spot. I’ll talk about what makes this remote destination so special for divers and underwater photographers, from its dramatic seascapes to its vibrant biodiversity.
We’ll also cover the practical side: how to get there, what to expect from the conditions (spoiler: the water is cold and the currents demand respect), and tips for planning an extended trip in the region. God’s Pocket isn’t for beginners, but for experienced divers looking for a truly unique cold-water experience, it’s hard to beat.

By day, Mackenzie works in product management at Zygo which makes ultra precision optics and scientific instruments, putting an engineering background to good use. But when the workday ends, you’ll probably find him underwater with a camera in hand. He first got SCUBA certified back in Massachusetts between high school and college, but things really took off after moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2014. That’s when underwater photography became more than just a hobby — it became a passion. Since 2016, Mackenzie has been the President of the Northern California Underwater Photographic Society (NCUPS), helping connect fellow divers and photo enthusiasts.

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87493443113?pwd=wgrj2SVtV04bKFZjsEv68uL8t6TrtC.1

Address

225 Cannery Row Ste C
Monterey, CA
93940

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