Elswit was born inLos Angeles.[3] An early short film he worked on was the 1982 television adaptation ofRay Bradbury's short storyAll Summer in a Day. Elswit worked as avisual effects camera operator atJohn Dykstra's Apogee Productions Inc. on each film, includingStar Trek: The Motion Picture,The Empire Strikes Back andE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,[4][5] before shootingmade-for-television films and shows. Elswit has been a fierce defender of shooting on film, and whenever possible avoids using digital cameras. Images shot digitally, he said, have "no texture, no grain."[6] He started shooting digitally, starting withNightcrawler. Elswit has worked withGeorge Clooney several times. He shot his black and white, multiple-Oscar nominated filmGood Night, and Good Luck. Elswit shot the film in color, and converted the film into black and white in post production. According to Elswit, the technique preserved the subtlety of the colors (as complex shades of blacks and greys) and made the overall look much richer in the final film.[7] Elswit was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Cinematography forGood Night, and Good Luck, but lost toDion Beebe forMemoirs of a Geisha. Elswit won the award forThere Will Be Blood in 2008.[8] Elswit has cited early independent filmmakerJohn Cassavetes as a major influence.[9] Elswit is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and worked there as a teaching assistant. Elswit is the godfather to the actorJake Gyllenhaal.[10]
