Frederick James Koenekamp,A.S.C. (November 11, 1922 – May 31, 2017^[1]) was an American cinematographer.^[2] He was the son of cinematographerHans F. Koenekamp.^[3]

Koenekamp worked in television and feature films from the 1960s, earning twoPrimetime Emmy Awards for his work onThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.

He was nominated for anOscar forPatton (1970) andIslands in the Stream (1977) and won the Oscar forThe Towering Inferno (1974), along withJoseph Biroc.

Fred J. Koenekamp was the son of American cinematographerH. F. Koenekamp, ASC. Hans was the cameraman ofMack Sennett and his career worked with the likes ofCharlie Chaplin,Gloria Swanson and theKeystone Cops.^[4] Hans would later receive the ASC Presidents Award in 1991. On occasion, as a young boy, Fred would go with his father on the weekends to visit the studios which he worked in. He took particular interest in the Camera and Special Effects Department atWarner Bros.^[5]

Despite this background in film, Koenekamp developed a much greater interest in aviation and enrolled in the commercial aviation program at theUniversity of Southern California. WhenWorld War II broke out, Koenekamp enlisted in the Navy and served in the South Pacific for three and a half years. Koenekamp would resume his education after the end of the war.^[5]

At the age of 23, Fred received a phone call from Herb Aller, head of the cameraman's union, and was offered a job as a film loader atRKO Pictures. It was during this time in which Fred developed a fascination with the picture business.^[5]

During this time, Bill Ellington, head of the camera department at RKO, and Ted Winchester, an associate at RKO, began to mentor Fred and during their spare time in the loading rooms, would teach Fred how to operate and take care of cameras.^[5]

The first five years of Koenekemp's career were fairly tumultuous and Fred found himself unemployed and employed again on several occasions. In 1953, Koenekamp received an offer from Bill Ellington to return to RKO to work on several3D film setups and tests. As business began to pick up at RKO once again, Koenekamp received his first job as an assistant cameraman onUnderwater! starringJane Russell and directed byJohn Sturges. Koenekamp found himself inHawaii for seven weeks and developed a skill forunderwater photography.^[5]

As a result of his experience with underwater photography, Koenekamp found himself atMGM working as an assistant cameraman on a project withEsther Williams. This would initiate Koenekamp's 14-year stint at MGM.^[5]

After five years working as an assistant cameraman at MGM, Koenekamp became an operator. His first film as an operator wasThe Brothers Karamazov, a film adapted and directed byRichard Brooks. Moving from assistant cameraman to operator, Koenekamp described the increase in responsibilities as a daunting task. It was during this time in which Koenekamp learned how to light scenes, compose shots, and work with a director. At MGM, Fred developed close working relations withRobert Surtees, ASC andMilton Krasner, ASC. Koenekamp worked with Surtees as a technician onRaintree County, the first film shot withPanavision 70.^[5]

Koenekamp became an operator forGunsmoke as business began to slow down at MGM. When the series wrapped, Fred found himself a four-year stint working onThe Man from U.N.C.L.E. and earned himself twoEmmy nominations for his work on the 1964–65 and 1965–66 seasons. Koenekamp would receive his first credit as a cinematographer for 1966'sThe Spy with My Face, a big screen adaptation ofThe Man from U.N.C.L.E. Within the next three years, Koenekamp worked on four more features with MGM—Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!, withSandra Dee andGeorge Hamilton;Stay Away, Joe (1968) andLive a Little, Love a Little, andHeaven with a Gun, withGlenn Ford. Koenekamp would then move on to work with Warner Bros. onThe Great Bank Robbery.^[5]

In the midst of working onThe Great Bank Robbery, Koenekamp received a call from his agent regarding interviewing with directorFranklin J. Schaffner forPatton (1970). A week later, Fred received a call informing him that he was selected to be the cinematographer for the film.Patton shot in several locations includingEngland,Greece,North Africa andSpain, and while shooting, Koenekamp developed a very close working relation with Franklin J. Schaffner. It was forPatton which Koenekamp received his firstAcademy Award for Best Cinematography nomination.^[5][6]

Koenekamp worked withFox and directorJohn Guillermin for 1974 action-drama disaster filmThe Towering Inferno. Fred worked with cinematographerJoseph Biroc on the film, and the two would win their firstAcademy Award for Best Cinematography.^[6] Koenekamp and Biroc would go on to work on four more features together.^[5]

Koenekamp reunited with Franklin J. Schaffner to work onIslands in the Stream and received his third Academy award nomination.^[6]

Koenekamp retired at the age of 67 as a result of his displeasure with the quality of the films he was working on. His last film wasFlight of the Intruder (1991).

Throughout his career as a cinematographer, Koenekamp preferred to work with the same crew. He had three assistants—Mike Benson, Ed Morey and Chuck Arnold, all of which he eventually made operators. All three would eventually become cinematographers as well.

Koenkamp was honored with an ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement on February 20, 2004.^[7]

Koenekamp died, at the age of 94, on May 31, 2017,^[8][9] and was buried at Eternal Valley Memorial Park inSanta Clarita, California.

TV movies

Academy Awards^[6]

BAFTA Awards

Laurel Awards

American Society of Cinematographers

Primetime Emmy Awards

• Daily Variety, Peripheral Vision: Wide Range of Koenekamp's Work Underscores his Versatility. November 29, 2016.
• American Cinematographer. A Versatile Veteran. November 29, 2016.]*American Cinematographer. ASC frames Koenekamp for lifetime achievement
• Academy Awards Database^{[permanent dead link‍]}
• Index for Motion Picture Credits