Ed Sykes is a photographer and visual artist based in London.

Ed’s practice focuses on landscape and changes to the environment as a result of natural processes and human activity. This approach is in conjunction with a re-working of photographic materials and a disruption of traditional photographic production. The processes and effects of climate change are often replicated during the image making process itself. The series 1000 Degrees used a blow torch to melt photographic negatives at a heat similar to the furnaces that propelled the Industrial Revolution. The work Hanging By A Thread pushed this same notion to the picture frames which were sourced secondhand and then the wooden surrounds were charred in a similar way to the subject matter of wildfires. Other approaches have involved sanding and abrasion echoing the effects of coastal erosion and also the use of soluble paper, the dissolution of an image in water, mimicking flood damage.

Ed was the recipient of an Arts Council grant for the project Eco Matters and Sustainable Processes. This saw Ed travel along Britain’s east coast and to some of Europe’s fastest eroding coastlines, embedding a new creative approach to climate change, environment and the anthropocene. In 2021 he was nominated for Prix Pictet Award with1000 Degrees, a response to the historical, industrial exploitation of natural resources in UK.

In episode 247, Ed discusses, among other things:

Early days on The Independent
Going to Somalia for ‘Operation Restore Hope’ and being disillusioned by it
Moving towards portraiture for magazines…
…and fashion
Having to take a day job and the feelings that brings up
Resetting, getting a 4x5 and doing it ‘without compromise’.
Environmental themes and concerns
Darkroom practice
His Arts Council grant to pursue the project Eco Matters and Sustainable Processes
Using plant-based developer and Agfa Record Rapid paper for the project Rock
Accepting and embracing mistakes as part of the creative process

Referenced:

Brian Harris
Kalpesh Lathigra
James Nachtwhey
Paul Lowe
Chris Steele Perkins
Delilah Sykes
Rodrigo Arantia

Website | Instagram

“As a photographer, you want something that drives you on. You need to find something that is close to your heart. And if you have that, you’re gonna go the distance. You’re gonna persevere, you’re gonna get up at four in the morning with the slim chance of getting one picture, because it’s important to you.”

Become a full tier 1 member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of previous episodes for £5 per month.
For the tier 2 archive-only membership, to access the full library of past episodes for £3 per month, go here.
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides.
Follow me on Instagram here.
Build Yourself a Squarespace Website video course here.

247 - Ed Sykes

A Small Voice: Conversations with photographers and filmmakers