No Escape

There is a location where I create most of my photographic impressions. It is located within the county and is close to my place of work, so it is convenient.
The entire regional park is vast, but with the time I have available, I typically visit a small portion of it. It is very “wild” in the sense that there are designated trails to walk and the rest is left undisturbed.
It’s not uncommon to see deer, coyote, rabbit and bird life. Occasionally, mountain lions are seen as well (not by me).
It is encompassed by the urban sprawl of San Diego. Freeways on one end (north), major transportation on two sides (east/south). A nearby regional airport to the east. And urban sprawl to the west. It is rarely ever truly quiet here. Relative to being in the middle of the city, it is less noisy. Only relative.
I’ve found that the older I get, the more I crave quiet. More specifically, sound that is void of any human influence. I have attempted to record audio for video production and have realized just how noisy this place is. If I get one full minute of a specific sound (like a river) without a plane or Harley, or siren I consider it a great achievement.
This photograph is a great testimony to the restraints of attempting to depict a natural world in a place full of human (visual) influence.
At first I hated it. The piece took some time to develop over several frames in-camera. The last frame was of the birds. When I saw the tower, I was filled with frustration.
When I opened it up in my computer, I came to realize a few things. These “escapes” to this area are not full escapes. The IDEA of an escape is there however, and that is good enough. I have been an urban produced human my entire life. Sometimes we just need a little less of the mayhem of human ingenuity and a little less can be good for the soul.

multiple exposures in-camera + color shifts in Topaz
Mission Trails, San Diego CA