Frederick Elmes


Frederick Elmes, is an American cinematographer, known for his association with the independent film movement, having worked mostly with directors David Lynch and Jim Jarmusch.

Life and career

Born in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Elmes studied photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology, 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. Since then the two have collaborated on Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart.
Elmes has been a member of the American Society of Cinematographers since 1993.

Filmography

Documentary film

Short film

Feature film

Television

TV movies
YearTitleDirector
1987Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8Jeremy Kagan
1988Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Closed SetMollie Miller
1997In the GloamingChristopher Reeve
2009A Dog YearGeorge LaVoo

Miniseries
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1988The French as Seen by...Werner Herzog
David Lynch
2 episodes
1998The WeddingCharles Burnett
2014Olive KitteridgeLisa Cholodenko
2016The Night OfSteven Zaillian4 episodes
2018The Looming TowerMichael Slovis
Craig Zisk
4 episodes
2019The FamilyJesse Moss2 episodes
2022The Girl from PlainvilleLisa Cholodenko
Daniel Minahan
3 episodes

TV series
YearTitleDirectorEpisode
2020HuntersAlfonso Gomez-Rejon"In the Belly of the Whale"

Awards and nominations