Frederick Elmes,A.S.C.(born November 4, 1946) is an American cinematographerwho has won theIndependent Spirit Award for Best Cinematographytwice, forWild at HeartandNight on Earth. Born inMountain Lakes, New Jersey, Elmes studied photography at theRochester Institute of Technology, then attended theAmerican Film InstituteinLos 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 aspiringfilm directorDavid Lynch, who hired him forEraserhead. Since then the two have collaborated on such films asBlue Velvet, andWild at Heart.