I photographed this family of Roseate Spoonbills many years ago at Lake Martin when the Rookery was active and had nesting birds near the road. In a long-term project, I saw the birds making a nest I could photograph. Then as the chicks were ready to hatch, I returned multiple times to catch both the mother and father on the nest when the light was shining on the birds and not too harsh. I had to return three times to get the shot—a dream situation, with both parents and four chicks in the nest. A real plus was having the parent's bills crossed, which I overlooked until reviewing the photographs on the computer.
This photograph is still my favorite image; while taken with an obsolete digital camera by today's standards, I nailed the exposure and made an exceptionally sharp image that prints up to 20 x 30 inches. I have a 20 by 30 hanging on the wall in my living room.