Frederick Elmes

ActorCinematographerCrew Nov 4 (age 79) Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, USA 1972–2026 (54 year career)

6.3 avg rating

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 L…

Known For

Film

Blue Velvet

Director of Photography

Film

Brothers

Director of Photography

Film

Eraserhead

Director of Photography

Film

The Night Of

Director of Photography

Film

Synecdoche, New York

Director of Photography

Film

Paterson

Director of Photography

Film

Wild at Heart

Director of Photography

Film

Night on Earth

Director of Photography

Filmography

Acting (6)

Movies (6)

I Know Catherine, the Log Lady

2026

as Self

Edge of Outside

2006

as Self

5.8

Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart

Mysteries of Love

as Self

Visions of Light

as Self

Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: David Lynch

1990

as Self

5.0

Crew (65)

Movies (63)

I Know Catherine, the Log Lady

2026

Director of Photography

Father Mother Sister Brother

2025

Director of Photography

6.6

French Water

2021

Director of Photography

4.6

The Jesus Rolls

2019

Director of Photography

4.4

The Dead Don't Die

2019

Director of Photography

5.4

Wilson

2017

Director of Photography

6.0

Hair

2017

Director of Photography

7.0

Paterson

2016

Director of Photography

7.1

Horns

2013

Director of Photography

6.3

A Late Quartet

2012

Director of Photography

6.7

Brothers

2009

Director of Photography

7.3

Bride Wars

2009

Director of Photography

6.2

A Dog Year

2009

Director of Photography

6.2

Synecdoche, New York

2008

Director of Photography

7.5

The Namesake

2006

Director of Photography

6.7

Broken Flowers

2005

Director of Photography

6.9

Coffee and Cigarettes

2004

Director of Photography

6.9

Kinsey

2004

Director of Photography

6.6

Hulk

2003

Director of Photography

5.6

Trapped

2002

Director of Photography

6.2

Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet

2002

Director of Photography

6.7

Chosen

2001

Director of Photography

6.3

Storytelling

2001

Director of Photography

6.5

Chain of Fools

2001

Director of Photography

5.8

Ride with the Devil

1999

Director of Photography

6.3

The Wedding

1998

Director of Photography

8.3

The Ice Storm

1997

Director of Photography

6.9

Coffee and Cigarettes III

1997

Director of Photography

7.0

In the Gloaming

1997

Director of Photography

5.9

Reckless

1995

Director of Photography

6.6

Trial by Jury

1994

Director of Photography

5.3

The Saint of Fort Washington

1993

Director of Photography

6.7

Night on Earth

1991

Director of Photography

7.5

Cold Dog Soup

1990

Director of Photography

4.9

Wild at Heart

1990

Director of Photography

7.0

Hollywood Mavericks

1990

Director of Photography

6.0

Permanent Record

1988

Director of Photography

6.3

Moonwalker

1988

Director of Photography

7.0

The Cowboy and the Frenchman

1988

Director of Photography

6.0

Aria

1987

Director of Photography

5.3

Heaven

1987

Director of Photography

6.1

Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8

1987

Director of Photography

6.5

Blue Velvet

1986

Director of Photography

7.6

River's Edge

1986

Director of Photography

6.5

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold

1986

Camera Technician

4.8

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold

1986

Director of Photography

4.8

Real Genius

1985

Second Unit Director of Photography

Broken Rainbow

Cinematography

Dune

Second Unit Director of Photography

6.2

Red Dawn

1984

Second Unit Director of Photography

6.3

Valley Girl

1983

Director of Photography

6.0

Citizen: The Political Life of Allard K. Lowenstein

1983

Director of Photography

Modern Romance

Camera Operator

Eraserhead

Director of Photography

7.3

Eraserhead

1977

Special Effects

7.3

Young Lady Chatterley

1977

Camera Operator

4.6

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

1976

Camera Operator

7.1

In the Region of Ice

1976

Additional Photography

6.8

A Woman Under the Influence

1974

Assistant Camera

7.8

The Amputee

1974

Director of Photography

5.0

The Amputee

1974

Director of Photography

4.0

Invasion of the Blood Farmers

1972

Assistant Camera

3.0

We Care About New York

Cinematography

Television (2)

The Night Of

2016

Director of Photography

8.0

Olive Kitteridge

2014

Director of Photography

7.6