Monterey Morning Photo

Photographer’s Note

We stayed across the street from here in order to catch the morning light and indulge in one of our favorite breakfast places on the commercial pier. I started taking pictures while it was the blue hour; this was the peak of the sunrise color; I actually decreased the saturation.

Here's a review:I would highly recommend LouLou's Griddle in the Middle located on Municipal Wharf 2 in Monterey. It is the commercial pier and you can drive onto the pier and park at meters on the wharf and walk right to LouLou's. It is halfway down the pier (thus the "middle" part of the name) in a charming yellow building. It is small, maybe four tables inside with a counter and some patio seating outside, but the food is great and you can enjoy the beautiful location. It is nice to be able to eat at such a great place far away from the touristy crowds at Muncipal Wharf 1.

The sourdough french toast is especially recommended for its freshness and awesome fluffiness. My husband has had several of the scrambles and has enjoyed each one immensely. All of the ingredients are fresh and they have several lunch options as well as breakfast. And of course they have a variety of seafood options for both breakfast and lunch. For breakfast they have squid and eggs! And sand dabs for lunch! All the egg dishes for breakfast come with the home fries that have tomato, carmelized onion, basil and Parmesan mixed in. Heaven!!

This is defintely a local's hangout and you will see regulars helping themselves to coffee behind the counter (which is great coffee btw). If you get there in the early morning you will see fishermen eating breakfast (probably the squid and eggs) and selling LouLou what she calls the "catch of the hour". My husband and I have driven more than 45 minutes out of the way just to eat at LouLou's. I am pretty sure they are only open from 7-3, so get there early!

I don't worry too much about the meters any more at LouLou's...last time we were there LouLou bellowed out "METER MAID" every time that poor soul showed her face on the pier. Everyone ran out of the restaurant to check their meters and ran back in to finish their breakfasts!

LouLou's Griddle in the Middle
(831) 372-0568
Municipal Wharf 2 N
Monterey, CA 93940

emilbo, jwmunro, edge, danos, gervaso, bona, paura, xuaxo, denisn72, jlbrthnn, gunbud, subhendu_bagchi, akm, bakes888 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

sothy81 (8540) 2009-11-09 15:39

I've always been a fan of clouds. This is very nice! I love the colors. beautifil evening light. Well done. Sothy

emilbo (9647) 2009-11-09 15:53

Salut Pat,
Très jolie cette photo avec 'explosion de couleurs matinales dans le ciel et des nuages éparpillés dans tous les sens. Il devait être tôt car les lampadaires étaient encore allumé, Une belle scène en toute tranquillité, superbes couleurs et beaux reflets
Tous mes compliments,
Emilius

jwmunro (6255) 2009-11-09 16:38

Good afternoon Pat -

Just lovely light! I can smell the bacon cooking and the slight chill in the ocean air. This is one of the best times to be out and about, sunrise, but most are asleep and don't know what they are missing. Just lovely.

Thank you for sharing.

John

Dyerco (9304) 2009-11-09 18:12

Hi Pat
Good use of the wide angle lens to capture the sky. The low horizon works well to emphasize the sky as well. Next time I'm in Monterey it LouLou's for breakfast.
Phil

edge (619) 2009-11-09 21:03

Hi Pat, Great morning shot. Timing was perfect. Great sun breaking through the California skies. I like the depth the buildings give to the picture. Woderful place to visit. I have been there a number of times. Regards, Roger

Waylim (11157) 2009-11-09 22:32

Hi Pat,
What a beautiful morning, I love Montery, I try to go up once a year here. Never quite get up this early to see the sunrise, but I certainly have seen plenty of beautiful sunset here. The sharpness is a bit soft here due to the low light, but that doesn't really matter, because the color of the sky is just magical here, so beautiful, even the reflection of the bay is illuminated with the beautiful tone. Such a peaceful and tranquil setting. I'll try getting up early next time I'm here.
Way

pajaran (3909) 2009-11-10 0:37

Pozdrav, vredni covece.
Ovaj tekst stvara zelju da se vidi ova lepota i pojede dobra hrana.
Pravi trenutak, kompozicija i prelepa fotografija.
Uzivajmo u lepim trenucima, Paja.

danos (33300) 2009-11-10 4:56

Hi Pat,
very nice the peak of the sunrise colour tints that spread in the whole sky.Dreamily these sunset mornings especially when someone takes his breakfast.Informative your note as well.

Regards,Danos

gervaso (5700) 2009-11-10 15:38

Hello, Pat!

The morning colors are wonderful, with also wonderful reflections on the water! You made the right decision to leave two thirds of the image to the sky, for it's the most impressive here. Beautiful job!

bona (2507) 2009-11-10 15:59

Wonderful sky. I like the pink colors on it.
The calm water is a nice scene to see.
Regards
Andre

toto (18767) 2009-11-11 3:28

Bojour,
belle photo de ce superbe coucher de soleil.
Ces nuages qui rougissent sont de toute beautés.
Belle prise et merci de cet excellent partage.

Amitiés Thomas

John_F_Kennedy (31994) 2009-11-11 3:35

Hello Pat,
I like the different line and layers of this picture, and the beautiful colours of the sunset. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

Angshu (34119) 2009-11-11 4:39

Hello Pat
Aaaah...Those clouds...quite amazing. I think you used a slowish shutter speed here as the clouds especially the one on the right seems to be in motion blur. The pastel pink hues in the entire picture justifies your keeping the low horizon for this picture. Well done
Best Regards
Angshu

JCG (25753) 2009-11-11 9:56

Hello Pat,

Magic moments these sunrises. A beautiful photograph from where it arises a pleasant feeling of calm and serenity, I like much. The choice of framing privileging this splendid sky is judicious and gives depth to this marine landscape. Thank you Pat.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

paura (39306) 2009-11-11 15:17

Pat,
This is an excellent photograph. Sharpness, exposure settings, colours, lighting, framing ... Everyting is working well. Great job with the Tamron.

Regards

Paulo

xuaxo (5835) 2009-11-12 7:42

Olá Pat,
Outstanding sunrise color. The note is also very interesting, but "seafood for breakfast" is not expected in my country.
As you have driven more than 45 minutes out of the way, for sure LouLou's a great place.
SAA,
F.

denisn72 (7077) 2009-11-13 14:54

Hi Pat,
Stunning fluffy and colourful clouds. Great point of view including the beach, a part of land and boats. Very eye catching! Good job!
Best regards
Denis!

jlbrthnn (38971) 2009-11-13 16:06

Good evening Pat,
I like much your way of telling this pleasant moment of your life. The colors are superb, I like the pink reflection. Pleasant landscape which suggests silence and peace. Beautiful image, great realization.
Good evening
Cordially
Joël

gunbud (28163) 2009-11-14 18:03

Hi Pat,
What wonderful treat for ones eyes to go along with the special treats served and this interesting breakfast spot.
I think the squid and eggs would go well with the magnificent pink morning sky.
Love the reflecting in the rolling surf.
Regards, Tom

pablominto (41372) 2009-11-15 23:04

Hello Pat,

The sky is not very different from my mornings once in a while!
Over here this is a autumnal phenomenon that takes place in October-November but seldom any other time of year...
The rising sun gives this fine pink hue to the lovely veil of clouds, a colour that is picked up by the sea too..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

avene (11140) 2009-11-16 20:08

hi Pat,
the pink clouds and your description of breakfast conjures quite a mood, wouldn't mind having such a lazy morning one of these days :) love the colours, the day cannot be bad after such a morning, even if you encounter METER MAID (lol, I'll have to remember this).

best,
Kristine

subhendu_bagchi (3516) 2009-11-18 3:50

Hi Pat,
nice capture of the morning mood. Great scenery. The boats in distance and the horizon is superb. Inclusion of the fence in FG is nice idea. Great composition. Tfs.
Have a nice day.
Subhendu

akm (852) 2009-11-26 19:50

Hello Pat,
Getting back to TE after a break and atching up. This is lovely. Well done.
Best regards,
Mary

bakes888 (18353) 2009-12-19 23:34

Hi Pat, seasons greetings.
You have certainly captured some beautiful colour in this shot and composed beautifully also. Must have been a long exposure, the waves are nicely softened. Nice work and thanks for sharing.
Have a good Sunday, Paul.