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.
Filmography
Cast Credits

I Know Catherine, the Log Lady
Character: Self
MOVIE • 2025

Edge of Outside
Character: Self
MOVIE • 2006

Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart
Character:
MOVIE • 2004

Mysteries of Love
Character: Self
MOVIE • 2002

Visions of Light
Character: Self
MOVIE • 1992

Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: David Lynch
Character: Self
MOVIE • 1990
Crew
Crew Credits

Father Mother Sister Brother
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2025

I Know Catherine, the Log Lady
Role: Cinematography
MOVIE • 2025

French Water
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2021

The Jesus Rolls
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2019

The Dead Don't Die
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2019

Hair
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2017

Wilson
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2017

Paterson
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2016

The Night Of
Role: Director of Photography
TV • 2016

Olive Kitteridge
Role: Director of Photography
TV • 2014

Horns
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2013

A Late Quartet
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2012

Brothers
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2009

A Dog Year
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2009

Bride Wars
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2009

Synecdoche, New York
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2008

The Namesake
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2006

Broken Flowers
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2005

Kinsey
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2004

Coffee and Cigarettes
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 2004