A photonic displacement sensor comprises a photonic fiber including a) a core section having a first band gap aligned along an extended longitudinal axis, and b) a cladding section surrounding the core section having a second band gap. The first band gap is adapted to block a spectral band of radiation centered on a first wavelength that is directed along the longitudinal axis, and the second band gap is adapted to block a spectral band of radiation centered on a second wavelength that is directed transversely to the longitudinal axis, and wherein displacement is detected based on a shift in at least one of the first and second band gap of the photonic fiber, enabling an intensity of radiation to be detected that is in proportion to the displacement in the photonic fiber.