Frederick Elmes

Personal Info

Known ForCamera
Born1946-11-04
BirthplaceMountain Lakes, New Jersey, USA

Frederick Elmes

Camera

Biography

Frederick Elmes, ASC (born November 4, 1946) is an American cinematographer, known for his association with the independent film movement. He is a long-time collaborator of directors David Lynch, Ang Lee, Charlie Kaufman, Jim Jarmusch, and Todd Solondz. He has won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography twice, for Wild at Heart (1990) and Night on Earth (1991), and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series for The Night Of (2016).

Born in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Elmes studied photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology and then attended the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, graduating in 1972. He enrolled in the Graduate Film Program at New York University's Department of Film and Television and graduated in 1975.

At the American Film Institute, Elmes met aspiring film director David Lynch, who hired him for Eraserhead (1977). Since then the two have collaborated on Blue Velvet (1986) and Wild at Heart (1990). Elmes is also a frequent collaborator with directors Ang Lee and Jim Jarmusch. Elmes has been a member of the American Society of Cinematographers since 1993.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Frederick Elmes, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Notable Works

Prominent titles featuring Frederick Elmes

Filmography

Acting (6)

Production & Directing (63)

2026
I Know Catherine, the Log LadyDirector of Photography
2025
Father Mother Sister BrotherDirector of Photography
6.4
2019
The Jesus RollsDirector of Photography
4.4
2019
The Dead Don't DieDirector of Photography
5.4
2017
HairDirector of Photography
6.5
2017
WilsonDirector of Photography
6.0
2016
PatersonDirector of Photography
7.1
2013
HornsDirector of Photography
6.3
2012
A Late QuartetDirector of Photography
6.7
2009
BrothersDirector of Photography
7.3
2009
A Dog YearDirector of Photography
6.1
2009
Bride WarsDirector of Photography
6.2
2008
Synecdoche, New YorkDirector of Photography
7.5
2006
The NamesakeDirector of Photography
6.8
2005
Broken FlowersDirector of Photography
6.9
2004
KinseyDirector of Photography
6.6
2004
Coffee and CigarettesDirector of Photography
6.9
2003
HulkDirector of Photography
5.6
2002
TrappedDirector of Photography
6.2
2002
Ten Minutes Older: The TrumpetDirector of Photography
6.9
2001
StorytellingDirector of Photography
6.5
2001
Chain of FoolsDirector of Photography
5.8
2001
ChosenDirector of Photography
6.3
1999
Ride with the DevilDirector of Photography
6.3
1998
The WeddingDirector of Photography
8.3
1997
The Ice StormDirector of Photography
6.9
1997
In the GloamingDirector of Photography
6.0
1997
Coffee and Cigarettes IIIDirector of Photography
7.2
1995
RecklessDirector of Photography
6.6
1994
Trial by JuryDirector of Photography
5.4
1993
The Saint of Fort WashingtonDirector of Photography
6.6
1991
Night on EarthDirector of Photography
7.5
1990
Hollywood MavericksDirector of Photography
7.3
1990
Cold Dog SoupDirector of Photography
5.3
1990
Wild at HeartDirector of Photography
7.0
1988
MoonwalkerDirector of Photography
7.1
1988
The Cowboy and the FrenchmanDirector of Photography
6.0
1988
Permanent RecordDirector of Photography
6.4
1987
AriaDirector of Photography
5.4
1987
7.0
1987
HeavenDirector of Photography
6.6
4.8
1986
River's EdgeDirector of Photography
6.6
1986
Blue VelvetDirector of Photography
7.6
1985
Real GeniusSecond Unit Director of Photography
6.7
1985
Broken RainbowCinematography
5.8
1984
DuneSecond Unit Director of Photography
6.2
1984
Red DawnSecond Unit Director of Photography
6.3
1983
Valley GirlDirector of Photography
6.0
1981
Modern RomanceCamera Operator
6.8
1977
EraserheadDirector of Photography
7.3
1977
EraserheadSpecial Effects
7.3
1977
Young Lady ChatterleyCamera Operator
4.8
1976
In the Region of IceAdditional Photography
6.3
7.0
1974
7.7
1974
The AmputeeDirector of Photography
5.1
1972
3.4
1970
Street Scenes 1970Director of Photography
5.5
1970
5.5
1970
Street Scenes 1970Camera Operator
5.5