Ken Kelsch

Kenneth Arthur Kelsch, ASC (July 8, 1947 – December 11, 2023) was an American cinematographer. He was best known for his guerilla filmmaking style and his career-spanning partnership with filmmaker Abel Ferrara, with whom he made more than a dozen films. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Ferrara’s The Funeral.

Prior to his filmmaking career, Kelsch served in the United States Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War, as a member of MACV-SOG.

Early life Kenneth Arthur Kelsch was born in Brooklyn on July 8, 1947, and grew up in East Newark and North Arlington, New Jersey. His mother was born in Scotland and his father was born in the Alsace region of France. He was raised Catholic. He took an early interest in photography: he had his own darkroom at 12 years old and his father showed him how to develop black and white photographs. While still in high school, his father died while Kelsch had been attending his first week of seminary and his mother was two weeks pregnant.

Military service Kelsch enlisted in the United States Army in 1965. As a Green Beret, he was the executive officer of an A-team during the Vietnam War and participated in SLAM (Search, Locate, Annihilate, and Monitor) operations in Laos He was a first lieutenant within the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group. He was discharged in 1969.

On television, Kelsch was the director of photography for the pilot episode of the CBS crime drama series Hack (2002) and the first and second seasons of the NBC supernatural procedural drama series Medium (2005–06).

Kelsch also taught cinematography at Montclair State University, Hofstra and Five Towns College on Long Island.

Filmography Film