The "Decisive Moment" or Sunny Marsh Mornings





The view with my hand held camera and long lens, mostly obscurred by foliage.







The view - no longer bothered by foliage - from my flying camera with a telephoto lens.



Michael Rubin muses on Henri Cartier-Bresson's decisive moment:
The decisive moment is a property of vantage point and framing (and of course timing), and not about the quintessence of the external event. His point is that in the swirl of humanity and nature, all around us, there are occasional fleeting moments where moving objects align naturally in the frame. He indeed sees geometry in the harmonic patterns, but it’s a complex geometry that makes it work, and not the application of a geometry. This distinction is important to him, and also where he is most misunderstood.



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Monet's Meadows Mingle with my Marigolds

Kelly Crow's The Last Living Monet - beautifully illustrated by Victoria Roselli - transported me back to our walk through Giverny's Foundation Claude Monet. Strolling through the gardens and house was a joy, a crowded one of course.

Thankfully, in 2025 we are one glance away from a plunge into Monet's gardens anywhere, including our own backyard. This video is an example of the teleportation fun from an amuz user on Apple's Vision Pro.

Explore -> immerse.






Bonus: read (or listen to) "The Last Living Monet" while immersed in the amuz app.






Explore Monet's Gardens in amuz on iPhone, iPad, Android and Vision Pro.


Links: The Last Living Monet

Claude Monet's House and Gardens.













Marsh Morning

A few minutes observing birds in trees, on and above the water.




























View a high resolution image of egrets and herons perched in trees here.





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A Fine Time in Fleury

We decided to visit Fleury because it was a scheduled stage for the 2024 Tour de France. In hindsight, Fleury was a brilliant choice for our visit to southern France. Proximity to local beaches, a charming downtown and respected local vineyards sealed the deal as a diverting destination. Plus it’s hard to imagine anywhere in the south of France that would not be delightful in the summer.

We stayed at the elegant but accessible Chateau Laquirou. The Chateau does triple duty as a lodging, vineyard and wine boutique. The apartments are well appointed, luxurious and private. The full kitchen and private courtyard were amazing for al fresco meals and leisurely apero hour.





We were charmed by the check in which featured a wine tasting. There is a wonderful attitude in rural France. The people we met are hard working. Our observation is that they strive for a balance in the direction of work to live vs. live to work. Yes, there was solid internet connection but the simple pleasures are prioritized. We walked among the gardens, drank the wine and looked up at the stars. It was relaxing bliss.

The vineyard is planted with 7 types of traditional vines on 40 hectares. At the risk of hyperbole the chateau is rather a hidden gem on the south coast. In the center of the Massif de la Clape the terroir beneath limestone cliffs with Mediterranean breezes yields delicious fresh white and robust red wines.

Of La Clape’s small production, about 80% is red and typically blends classic Mediterranean grapes such as Grenache, Carignan, and Mourvedre. The region has a dry and warm climate. Their website references 3000 hours of sunshine per year.

The Laquirou estate, which, according to the ancients, takes its name in Occitan from "red stone", was a sheep farm in the 15th century. The Hug family purchased the vineyard in 1993. The family owns the largest music company in Switzerland.

There is an ironic joke that the best way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start with a large fortune. In truth an enterprise requires resources, tenacity and taste. Their wines are well reviewed award winning.

When one thinks of the best travel experiences it truly is how one is made to feel. The hospitality was exceptional. Myriam Cohen was gracious and made terrific local recommendations. We heeded her suggestion of the Black Tulip as a “gastronomic” lunch destination. It too was exceptional. We are ready to return to this beautiful part of the world for further wandering and discovery.




Explore Fleury in amuz.