About the Image(s)

The image was shot last spring when chicks just beginning to hatch in the St. Augustine zoo rookery in Florida. Almost all the nests were tucked way behind branches and twigs (distractions). the mother egret sat in the nest most of the time hiding the chicks under her wings. I had to look for the nest which was free from distractions and then wait for over an hour until the mother stood up so the chicks were visible.

Shot with canon EOS R5 Mark 2/RF 100-300+1.4TC
shutter speed 1/2000sec; f 4 ISO 640, matrix metering Exposure compensation -1.5 stops
Denoised with DXO and processed in LR to bring out the shadows