Category: Competition Winners

Winners of the Novice, Amateur, Advanced, and Video categories

February 2026 Competition Results

The February 2026 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Popping Up”. There were a total of 30 submissions (21 still images and 9 videos).

Novice Category

  • Novice – 3rd Place: Leo Lstaden
  • Novice – 2nd Place: Diane Hotz
  • Novice – 1st Place: Jerald Pratt

Amateur Category

  • Amateur – 3rd Place: Matthias Scheer
  • Amateur – 2nd Place: Tom Baker
  • Amateur – 1st Place: Doug Bonhaus

Advance Category

  • Advanced – 3rd Place: Greg Volger
  • Advanced – 2nd Place: Jack Der
  • Advanced – 1st Place: Mike Couffer

Video Category

February Video Winners

January 2026 Competition Results

The January 2026 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Best of 2025”. There were a total of 36 submissions (22 still images and 7 videos).

Novice Category

  • 3rd Place: Leo Lstaden
  • 2nd Place: Diane Hotz
  • 1st Place: James Logan

Amateur Category

  • 3rd Place: Matt Wilbur
  • 2nd Place: Katherine Mauser
  • 1st Place: Matthias Scheer

Advance Category

  • 3rd Place: Lois Miller
  • 2nd Place: Jack Der
  • 1st Place: Greg Volger

Video Category

Best of 2025 Videos

November 2025 Competition Results

The November 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Photoshopped”. There were a total of 19 submissions (14 still images and 5 videos).

Novice Category

  • 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • 2nd Place: Greg Beadle

Amateur Category

  • 1st Place: Matt Wilbur



  • 2nd Place: Tom Baker
  • 3rd Place: Doug Bonhaus



Advance Category

  • 1st Place: Paula Selby




  • 2nd Place (tie): Greg Volger




  • 2nd Place (tie): Jack Der




  • 3rd Place: Lois Miller






Video Category

Photoshopped Videos

October 2025 Competition Results

The October 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Camouflage”. There were a total of 37 submissions (23 still images and 7 videos).

Novice Category

  • Novice – 1st Place: Melissa Foo
  • Novice – 2nd Place: Susan Scheer
  • Novice – 3rd Place: James Logan

Amateur Category

  • Amateur – 1st Place: Tom Baker
  • Amateur – 2nd Place: Katherine Mauser
  • Amateur – 3rd Place: Charlotte Seid

Advance Category

  • Advanced – 1st Place: Lois Miller
  • Advanced – 2nd Place: Greg Volger
  • Advanced – 3rd Place (tie): Denise Lew
  • Advanced – 3rd Place (tie): Bob Yin

Video Category

Camouflage Videos

September 2025 Competition Results

The September 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Back to School” There were a total of 32 submissions (24 still images and 8 videos).

Novice Category

  • Novice – 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • Novice – 2nd Place: David Karp
  • Novice – 3rd Place: Melissa Foo

Amateur Category

  • Amateur – 1st Place (tie): Katherine Mauser
  • Amateur – 1st Place (tie): Tom Baker
  • Amateur – 2nd Place: Matt Wilbur
  • Amateur – 3rd Place: Doug Bonhaus

Advance Category

  • Advanced – 1st Place: Greg Volger
  • Advanced – 2nd Place: Bob Yin
  • Advanced – 3rd Place: Harold Dorr

Video Category

Back to School Videos

August 2025 Competition Results

The August 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Bokeh” There were a total of 26 submissions (22 still images and 4 videos).

Novice Category

  • Novice – 3rd Place: Jim Royer
  • Novice – 2nd Place: Valerie Shoemaker
  • Novice – 1st Place: Matthias Scheer

Amateur Category

  • Amateur – 1st Place: Charlotte Seid
  • Amateur – 2nd Place: Tom Baker
  • Amateur – 3rd Place: Matt Wilbur

Advance Category

  • Advanced – 1st Place: Jack Der
  • Advanced – 2nd Place: Greg Volger
  • Advanced – 3rd Place: David Hinkel

Video Category

Humans Underwater Videos

July 2025 Competition Results

The July 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Midwater” There were a total of 31 submissions (21 still images and 10 videos).

Novice Category

  • Novice – 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • Novice – 2nd Place: Diane Hotz
  • Novice – 3rd Place: Susan Scheer

Amateur Category

  • Amateur – 1st Place: Doug Bonhaus
  • Amateur – 2nd Place (tie): Katherine Mauser
  • Amateur – 2nd Place (tie): Ryan Vaickus
  • Amateur – 3rd Place: Charlotte Seid

Advance Category

  • Advanced – 1st Place: Greg Volger
  • Advanced – 2nd Place: David Hinkel
  • Advanced – 3rd Place (tie): Jack Der
  • Advanced – 3rd Place (tie): Mike Poirier

Video Category

Humans Underwater Videos

June 2025 Competition Results

Novice Category

The June 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Humans Underwater” There were a total of 29 submissions (23 still images and 6 videos).

Novice Category

  • Novice – 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • Novice – 2nd Place: James Logan
  • Novice – 3rd Place: Alex Toh

Amateur Category

  • Amateur – 1st Place: Tom Baker
  • Amateur – 2nd Place: Matt Wilbur
  • Amateur – 3rd Place: Katherine Mauser

Advance Category

  • Advanced – 1st Place: Mike Couffer
  • Advanced – 2nd Place: Jack Der
  • Advanced – 3rd Place: Gayle Van Leer

Video Category

Humans Underwater Videos

May 2025 Competition Results

Novice Category

The May 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “Dominant Color” There were a total of 29 submissions (23 still images and 6 videos).

Novice Category

  • 1st Place (tie): Diane Hotz
  • 1st Place (tie): Matthias Scheer
  • 2nd Place: Elaine Masters
  • 3rd Place: Cindy Lipthay

Amateur Category

  • 1st Place: Tom Baker
  • 2nd Place: Charlotte Seid
  • 3rd Place (tie): Katherine Mauser
  • 3rd Place (tie): Matt Wilbur

Advance Category

  • 1st Place: Greg Volger
  • 2nd Place: Denise Lew
  • 3rd Place: Dick Miller

Video Category

April 2025 Competition Results

Novice Category

The April 2025 SDUPS photo and video competition category was “New Beginnings” There were a total of 30 submissions (23 still images and 7 videos).

Novice Category

  • 1st Place: Matthias Scheer
  • 2nd Place: Cindy Lipthay
  • 3rd Place: Jacob Roth

Amateur Category

  • 1st Place: Matt Wilbur
  • 2nd Place: Doug Bonhaus
  • 3rd Place (tie): Charlotte Seid
  • 3rd Place (tie): Ryan Vaickus

Advance Category

  • 1st Place: Jack Der
  • 2nd Place: Bob Yin
  • 3rd Place: Herb Gruenhagen

Video Category

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