Sykes' father is Warnick Sykes, a Canadian-born American blood who works for the China National Aviation Corporation in Shanghai. His mother is Helen Grimmitt who was also born in Canada but was raised in Hong Kong. Sykes father was killed in an accident when he was still in his mother's womb. In the year 1954, Sykes mother remarried and they then moved to England.
As a teenager, Sykes was a very observant young boy. He started to be curious about photography and got addicted to it. He even has his personal dark room in their house. When he was sent to school, he finds time to visit his darkroom so he can still be attached to his love in photography and to process his snapshots. In 1968, because of his curiosity in the field of photography, he took up a three year course at the London College of Printing. Eager enough to learn, Sykes wandered around New York City to find his subjects. One time at his wandering, he stopped at the Museum of Modern Art where he found the wonderful works of some of the most famous photographers. He had seen the work of art made by famous photographers like Garry Winogrand, Lee Friedlander and Henry Cartier-Bresson. Astonished to what he had seen, Sykes thought to himself on how he can make a good photograph and on what occasion he should document. He then remembered the Britannia Coconut Dancers which he had seen in the In Britain magazine issue. Sykes photographs of the Britannia Coconut Dancers helped him to establish his own name.
Sykes then started to photograph a number of festivals. His works were exhibited and many viewers appreciated his works, this includes the English novelist and journalist Colin Maclnnes. Some of his works were also shown in the book entitled Some Traditional British Customs and the book Once a Year, which was authored by Gordon Fraser.
Gaining a lot of positive feedbacks, Sykes became confident and motivated to do more. He started photographing news stories. He also worked for New Society, Observer, Newsweek, Sunday Times and Time. In 2005, he started working with the Network Photographers. Sykes reached the peak of his career and never let opportunity pass him. When the Grimstone Foundation had invited him to take the project in photographing Shanghai, Sykes without a doubt accepted the offer. He discovered a lot about the city where he always wanted to go. He also discovered that the place where his parents used to live still existed; the building of Jiang Xi Lu. His project with Shanghai was a great success. His photographs were exhibited and published in the book entitled Shanghai Odyssey.
Today, Sykes continues to make great photographs. He is also still on tract of making and publishing his own book about his photographic journey.
As a teenager, Sykes was a very observant young boy. He started to be curious about photography and got addicted to it. He even has his personal dark room in their house. When he was sent to school, he finds time to visit his darkroom so he can still be attached to his love in photography and to process his snapshots. In 1968, because of his curiosity in the field of photography, he took up a three year course at the London College of Printing. Eager enough to learn, Sykes wandered around New York City to find his subjects. One time at his wandering, he stopped at the Museum of Modern Art where he found the wonderful works of some of the most famous photographers. He had seen the work of art made by famous photographers like Garry Winogrand, Lee Friedlander and Henry Cartier-Bresson. Astonished to what he had seen, Sykes thought to himself on how he can make a good photograph and on what occasion he should document. He then remembered the Britannia Coconut Dancers which he had seen in the In Britain magazine issue. Sykes photographs of the Britannia Coconut Dancers helped him to establish his own name.
Sykes then started to photograph a number of festivals. His works were exhibited and many viewers appreciated his works, this includes the English novelist and journalist Colin Maclnnes. Some of his works were also shown in the book entitled Some Traditional British Customs and the book Once a Year, which was authored by Gordon Fraser.
Gaining a lot of positive feedbacks, Sykes became confident and motivated to do more. He started photographing news stories. He also worked for New Society, Observer, Newsweek, Sunday Times and Time. In 2005, he started working with the Network Photographers. Sykes reached the peak of his career and never let opportunity pass him. When the Grimstone Foundation had invited him to take the project in photographing Shanghai, Sykes without a doubt accepted the offer. He discovered a lot about the city where he always wanted to go. He also discovered that the place where his parents used to live still existed; the building of Jiang Xi Lu. His project with Shanghai was a great success. His photographs were exhibited and published in the book entitled Shanghai Odyssey.
Today, Sykes continues to make great photographs. He is also still on tract of making and publishing his own book about his photographic journey.