Frederick Elmes, (born November 4, 1946) 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.Frederick Elmes at the Encyclopedia of Cinematographers
At the American Film Institute, Elmes met aspiring film director David Lynch, who hired him for Eraserhead (1977).
Elmes has been a member of the American Society of Cinematographers since 1993.
Filmography Documentary film Year Title Director Notes 1970 Street Scenes 1970 Martin Scorsese 1983 Citizen: The Political Life of Allard K. Lowenstein Julie M. Thompson 1985 Broken Rainbow Maria FlorioVictoria Mudd With Baird Bryant, Victoria Mudd, Tony St. John and Joan Weidman 1987 Heaven Diane Keaton With Joseph J. Kelly 1990 Hollywood Mavericks Florence DaumanDale Ann Stieber 2025 I Know Catherine, the Log Lady Richard Green
Short film Year Title Director Notes 1974 The Amputee David Lynch 1976 Number One Dyan Cannon Also editor 1987 Liebestod Franc Roddam Segment of Aria1988 Speed DemonJerry KramerColin ChilversSegments of Moonwalker Smooth Criminal Come Together 2001 Chosen Ang Lee Segment of The Hire 2002 Int. Trailer NightJim Jarmusch Segment of Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet 2003 Somewhere in California Segment of Coffee and Cigarettes 2010 House Keeping Johan Renck 2017 Hair John Turturro 2021 French WaterJim Jarmusch2025 FatherSegments of Father Mother Sister Brother Mother
Feature film Year Title Director Notes1977 Eraserhead David Lynch With Herbert Cardwell Breakfast in Bed William Haugse 1983 Valley Girl Martha Coolidge1986 River's Edge Tim Hunter Blue Velvet David Lynch Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold Gary Nelson With Álex Phillips Jr. 1988 Permanent Record Marisa Silver1990 Wild at Heart David Lynch Cold Dog Soup Alan Metter 1991 Night on Earth Jim Jarmusch 1993 The Saint of Fort Washington Tim Hunter 1994 Trial by Jury Heywood Gould 1995 Reckless Norman René 1996 The Empty Mirror Barry J. Hershey 1997 The Ice Storm Ang Lee 1998 The Object of My Affection Nicholas Hytner 1999 Ride with the Devil Ang Lee 2000 Chain of Fools Traktor 2001 Storytelling Todd Solondz 2002 Trapped Luis Mandoki With Piotr Sobociński 2003 Hulk Ang Lee 2004 Kinsey Bill Condon 2005 Broken Flowers Jim Jarmusch 2006 The Namesake Mira Nair 2008 Synecdoche, New York Charlie Kaufman2009 Bride Wars Gary Winick Brothers Jim Sheridan 2010 A. Hitler Barry J. Hershey 2012 A Late Quartet Yaron Zilberman 2013 Horns Alexandre Aja 2016 Paterson Jim Jarmusch 2017 Wilson Craig Johnson2019 The Dead Don't Die Jim Jarmusch The Jesus Rolls John Turturro
Television TV movies Year Title Director 1987 Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 Jeremy Kagan 1988 Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Closed Set Mollie Miller 1997 In the Gloaming Christopher Reeve 2009 A Dog Year George LaVoo
Miniseries Year Title Director Notes 1988 The French as Seen by... Werner HerzogDavid Lynch 2 episodes 1998 The Wedding Charles Burnett 2014 Olive Kitteridge Lisa Cholodenko 2016 The Night Of Steven Zaillian 4 episodes 2018 The Looming Tower Michael SlovisCraig Zisk 4 episodes 2019 The Family Jesse Moss 2 episodes 2022 The Girl from Plainville Lisa CholodenkoDaniel Minahan 3 episodes
TV series Year Title Director Episode 2020 Hunters Alfonso Gomez-Rejon "In the Belly of the Whale"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result1986Boston Society of Film CriticsBest CinematographyBlue VelvetNational Society of Film CriticsBest CinematographySitges Film FestivalBest CinematographyIndependent Spirit AwardsBest CinematographyNew York Film Critics CircleBest Cinematography 1990Independent Spirit AwardsBest CinematographyWild at Heart 1991Night on Earth 1996FantasportoDirectors' Week Award for Best CinematographyThe Empty MirrorWorldFest-Houston International Film FestivalGold Special Jury Award for Best Cinematography1997Chicago Film Critics AssociationBest CinematographyThe Ice StormChlotrudis AwardBest CinematographyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding CinematographyIn the Gloaming 2016The Night Of(For episode "Ordinary Death")
References
External links
www.FredElmes.com Eraserhead Interview