Elliot Davis (cinematographer)


Elliot Davis is an American cinematographer.
Davis graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and a Master of Fine Arts in Film from UCLA. Davis feels his tenure as an architect carries over into his shooting style.
Davis began his career in the mid 1970s, acting as cinematographer on the drama Harvest: 3,000 Years. He also would act as the camera operator for various films, including Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders and Joel Schumacher's St. Elmo's Fire. Davis would collaborate frequently with several directors, including Steven Soderbergh, Catherine Hardwicke, and Jessie Nelson.
Davis was the director of photography for Nate Parker's controversial directorial debut The Birth of a Nation. Davis was not familiar with Parker prior to receiving the script, but soon forged a creative connection with him, using films such as The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford as influence for the look of Nation.
Additional works include The Cutting Edge, Father of the Bride Part II, Equinox, Larger than Life, Forces of Nature, 40 Days and 40 Nights, White Oleander, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, A Love Song for Bobby Long, The Iron Lady, Man of Tai Chi and the upcoming Above Suspicion.
For his work on Equinox and The Underneath, Davis received two nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1976Harvest: 3,000 YearsHaile Gerima
1976Independence DayBobby Roth
1979The Onion FieldHarold BeckerCamera operator
1980Used CarsRobert ZemeckisCamera operator
1981Broken EnglishMichie Gleason
1982Death ValleyDick RichardsCamera operator
1983The OutsidersFrancis Ford CoppolaCamera operator
1983Something Wicked This Way ComesJack ClaytonCamera operator
1983Return EngagementAlan RudolphDocumentary, Camera operator
1984Racing with the MoonRichard BenjaminCamera operator: additional phot.
1985Tuff TurfFritz KierschCamera operator
1985St. Elmo's FireJoel SchumacherCamera operator
1985Trouble in MindAlan RudolphCamera operator
19868 Million Ways to DieHal AshbyCamera operator
1986Blue CityMichelle ManningCamera operator: second unit
1986VampRichard Wenk
1987Summer HeatMichie Gleason
1988Miles from HomeGary Sinise
19881969Ernest ThompsonCo-additional photography
1989Signs of LifeJohn David Coles
1989Bloodhounds of BroadwayHoward Brookner
1990Bright AngelMichael Fields
1990Love at LargeAlan Rudolph
1991Shakes the ClownBobcat Goldthwait
1991Mortal ThoughtsAlan Rudolph
1992The Cutting EdgePaul Michael Glaser
1992EquinoxAlan RudolphNominated - Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
1993King of the HillSteven Soderbergh
1993Mother's BoysYves Simoneau
1994Mr. WriteCharlie Loventhal
1994The Glass ShieldCharles Burnett
1995Things to Do in Denver When You're DeadGary Fleder
1995Father of the Bride Part IICharles ShyerWith William A. Fraker
1995The UnderneathSteven SoderberghNominated - Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
1996Gray's AnatomySteven Soderbergh
1996Get on the BusSpike Lee
1996Larger than LifeHoward Franklin
1997Lawn DogsJohn Duigan
1998Out of SightSteven Soderbergh
1998Finding GracelandDavid Winkler
1999Forces of NatureBronwen Hughes
1999Light It UpCraig Bolotin
1999Breakfast of ChampionsAlan Rudolph
2000The Next Best ThingJohn Schlesinger
2001I Am SamJessie Nelson
2001Happy CampersDaniel Waters
200240 Days and 40 NightsMichael Lehmann
2002White OleanderPeter Kosminsky
2003ThirteenCatherine Hardwicke
2003Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & BlondeCharles Herman-Wurmfeld
2004A Love Song for Bobby LongShainee Gabel
2005Lords of DogtownCatherine Hardwicke
2006The Nativity StoryCatherine Hardwicke
2008Surfer, DudeS.R. Bindler
2008TwilightCatherine Hardwicke
2008Personal EffectsDavid Hollander
2011The Iron LadyPhyllida Lloyd
2011A Year in MooringChris EyreSXSW Film Festival - Best Cinematography - Narrative Competition
2013Man of Tai ChiKeanu Reeves
2013Louder Than WordsAnthony Fabian
2015The RunnerAustin Stark
2015Love the CoopersJessie Nelson
2015Miss You AlreadyCatherine Hardwicke
2016The Birth of a NationNate Parker
2018A Love of MoneyElliot Davis
2018Dumplin'Anne Fletcher
2018Surfing in AfghanistanR.T. Herwig
2019Above SuspicionPhillip Noyce
2020UncorkedPrentice Penny
2022Gigi & NateNick Hamm-
2022Hocus Pocus 2Anne Fletcher

TV movies
YearTitleDirector
1979The Tenth MonthJoan Tewkesbury
1997Mayflower MadamLou Antonio
1992MemphisYves Simoneau
1996NightjohnCharles Burnett