The coastline of Monterey is peaceful in the morning. I started well before dawn, before most of the town was awake. It was quiet. I like the quiet.

It was difficult to see the shapes of the land at blue hour. The intricacies of the rock formations would be revealed as the morning progressed. While I awaited sunrise, I photographed the homes along Ocean Boulevard looking out to the Pacific.

**Monterey Before The Sunrise**
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The ambient light grew and the fascinating rock faces behind me could no longer be ignored. I worked my way out on to the rock ledge. Footing was uneasy. It was not a tall cliff by typical standards, perhaps 60 feet, but not a drop I wanted to take - ever. I captured photo after photo as the tide to mixed with the land, each one with a unique pattern of swirls.

**Monterey At Sunrise**
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I walked farther west along the footpath paralleling the rock faces to a small beach. I like these little coves where a photographer can get up close and personal with the rocks and ocean. I worked the scene for several minutes, fine tuning the frame, then trying to time the waves to complete my composition.

**Monterey Shore in Black And White**
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When the sun cleared the horizon and the hills to the east, the wet rocks caught flecks of orange light. The ocean mirrored the sunbeam from the distance. I needed a color frame of this place, too.