Robert Dykes

Robert Dykes described himself as a ‘research chemist and geologist,' and was chief scientific assistant to the naturalist and explorer Sir John Murray, who died in 1914. Dykes published ‘Imitation Gems’ (1908) and ‘Night Photography’ (1908). However, before 1914 Dykes was also cameraman for a number of different concerns, including the London Film Company. After the war he was also cameraman on ‘Potters Clay’ (Big Four Famous Productions, 1922), and then ‘Official Cinematographer H.M.S. Hood, British Empire World Cruise, 1923-4, and of various expeditions to East Africa, the Gold Coast, Ashanti, Nigeria and the Belgian Congo.' Film from the first of these was released as ‘The Cruise of H.M.S. Hood,' and by 1925 Dykes had also worked on ‘Treasureland’ and ‘Britain’s Birthright.' He was probably the ‘Dykes’ credited in the camera team that filmed ‘THE GRAND NATIONAL, 1927’ for Pathe Gazette No.1384 of March 1927. In 1931 he published ‘The Amateur Cinematographer’s Handbook.'

Sources

Kinematograph Year Book 1926 (London, 1925), p.253, ‘Robert Dykes, FRPS’: R. Dykes ‘Amateur Cinematographer’s Handbook’ (London, 1931), title page.