I just want to let people know of an obscure, but very frustrating computer problem. I recently sat down at my desktop, ready for a good session on Lightroom. The main monitor and also the secondary fired up and I logged on without drama, then the problem started. Firstly the main screen went totally blank and the smaller one began blinking off and on in about five second cycles.

Checked that no cables were loose then did several restarts but all for no change. Had to resort to the tricky job of deleting the monitor driver on a screen that is only on for five seconds at a time. Failed again. Grabbed the laptop and Google saved the day even though I could not find the exact problem. A somewhat similar situation gave the advice to disconnect power to the monitor, assumedly the main one, but I chose the powerpoint which fed all the gear via a powerboard. After all of the frustration, it was fixed; it turns out that the monitor handshake can become corrupted and restart does not fix it, turn off power entirely.

Hope that this does not bore you, just keep in the back of your mind that a full power off rather than restart may rectify some obscure computer issue.

Ron

Thank you for the emotional stories behind those beautiful photos.

Keep going with this experiment and hunt some insects, sometimes they will even pose for you - but not often.

May I give you a suggestion. When I first started using tubes I would suddenly find a subject and be somewhat indecisive about what tube or combination to use. It becomes automatic in the end but whilst learning I found that photographing a ruler with single tubes or combinations, was a helpful guide.

Good luck with this type of photography as it is great fun. My best is of is of two lady bugs copulating, just a lucky find.

Ron

If you notice the uneven span towards the eastern shore (right side of photo) that is because of a ship impact many years ago. The ship is still in place therefore one pylon is not placed in its original position.

In Australia, this old term did not have a political flavour, but generally referred to an indecisive person. I think that my father once called me that when I was "sitting on the fence" about some issue, he told me that my mug (face) was on one side of the fence, and my whump (rump?) was on the other.

Have not heard it in the last 60 years.

On1 has a limitation that confounded me on a job involving repair of tears in a very small scanned photo. The tear through an eye could not be fixed as the programme has maximum view magnification of 400%. This very limited magnification repair does not permit repair of an eyeball. I seem to recall that PS can be cranked up beyond 3000%, allowing pixel level repair.

I probably should not respond as I am not a computer expert, but there is one aspect that could be clarified. Your system, with 32GB of RAM, should not be employing the scratch memory unless you have a mass of programmes working in the background. Have you checked as to what programmes are using memory and how much is being used in total? As for the scratch memory you have indicated the vacant space on two drives, but that is most unlikely to be what you have allocated to this overflow function. What space you have available for scratch memory may be the upper limit of what you are able to allocate, but what have you actually allocated to this function?

Anyhow, I hope that Adobe fixes it all with no drama.

I love your photo but I must ensure that you and others are aware of what I believe is a serious deficiency with ON1. Even though I have owned 2017, 2018, 2019 and now 2020, only recently did I undertake a serious task. I scanned a small, old B&W, photo booth photo that had several tears including one that went through an eye.
The repair went well until I got to the eye and that needed examination and repair at pixel level. Unfortunately ON1 only gives a maximum view of 400%, and is totally inadequate for the type of work that I was undertaking.

I do not like to put any programme down but this limitation very much annoyed me. Anyhow, well done with your photo and its processing with ON1, it can do many things very well.

Ron

Both shots are great but the second is a real stunner for me. Incidentally, the subject placement, fair square in the middle, works far better than a two thirds, one third, would have done. In the centre, there is no mistaking the focal point. Well captured Sir.
I don't often comment on photos, but the second one, in particular, really grabbed me.

Ron

As buying a new monitor is not all that frequent, may I suggest that desk space permitting, you step up from 27" to 32". I recently bought a modestly priced Philips 4K and although it is a VA panel, rather than IPS, I am delighted with the quality. This link is Australian, but if interested then you can research it locally.

https://www.philips.com.au/c-p/328P6VJEB_75/brilliance-4k-lcd-monitor-with-ultra-wide-color

I don't wish to antagonize my Gold Coast friend, and though there is much to see up north, according to Google your current temperature is 9 degrees centigrade and Cairns is forecast to be over 30 degrees next week. Expect much the same in October, weigh up your comfort level.

I almost forgot, Tasmania also has Tasmanian devils. (Also in the Sydney zoos and possibly Australia Zoo)

When you decide on a part of Australia to investigate then feel free to PM me and I may be able to give some guidance.

I live 150km south of Sydney.

Ron

The nearest capital city to Australia Zoo, is Brisbane, in the state of Queensland.
In October the weather is pretty warm, i.e. over 30C. Pack your clothing accordingly.

https://www.australiazoo.com.au/

I have not been to this zoo but Google states that it is some 1000 acres, and this should keep you amused for a day or two. If you want crocodiles and eagles, in the wild, then you will need to go a 1000km or more north and then you will have most uncomfortable heat. The north of this country in not pleasant for tourists unless going there in winter.

There are two very good zoos around the Sydney area and the weather may be a little more moderate but no guarantee.

Another option is to visit the island state of Tasmania. This is the southernmost state and the temperature would be much kinder to you. Despite the small area of the state it takes a relaxed three weeks to see it. It has kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and platypus. Also there is a very interesting seahorse hatchery in the north of the state. This state abounds with classy wineries.

Do not try to pack too much into three weeks as you will have burn out rather than enjoyment.

Have a safe trip. (Remember that we drive on the other side of the road)

regards
Ron

I am not quite sure why there are answers that seem so complicated.
I have LR6 installed on my laptop and on the desktop, the photos and catalog are on an external hard drive.
Use file explorer and double click on the catalog and LR fires up on whichever machine you are using. It works just as well when using the web connected version.

I love your set capture; those skimming the water are just superb.

I have a bat that visits my garden most nights but he is a lazy model, just hangs upside gown in the date palm after having a snack on the fruit.

Used to live at a place where thousands flew over at dusk every night. Big lesson was to put the car in the garage as the bat deposits are large, purple and very acidic.