Daniel Cheek

My photographs of Benicia and Martinez, California document the intersection of suburbia with the effects of major industry. The two San Francisco Bay Area cities of Benicia and Martinez, California lie on either side of the Carquinez strait. Today Martinez is the home of two major oil refineries, three chemical plants, and several hazardous waste dumps. Benicia, just across the strait, is the home of a major oil refinery, a chemical plant and the site of a de-accessioned military base, which today is a major industrial park. The area is not all industry though; there are several regional shoreline parks with miles of hiking, quaint downtown areas with antique shops and restaurants, and beautiful city parks. The towns themselves are bucolic and comparatively affordable compared to other cities in the San Francisco Bay area.