John Arnold (1889–1964) was an American cinematographer. He began his career in 1914, and in the next 15 years, he shot 86 films. He also worked in film administration, directing the cinematography department at MGM, and was president of the American Society of Cinematographers from 1931 through 1937, and again from 1939 to 1941. By 1938, he was regarded as one of the most authoritative experts on cinematography. He invented several pieces of camera equipment and was awarded two Oscars, both Technical Achievement Awards. The first was in 1938 for improvements on the semi-automatic follow focus device used on motion picture cameras, while the second was in 1940 for the development of the MGM mobile camera crane. Career 1910s and 1920s Arnold started his career with Republic Pictures in New York City (not to be confused with Republic Pictures) in 1910. Arnold's first film was 1914's Springtime, directed by Will S. Davis and starring Florence Nash, Adele Ray, and William H. Tooker. Filming took place on location in New Orleans, Louisiana and in St. Augustine, Florida. In July 1916, he began working for Metro Pictures, his first picture being The Quitter, starring Lionel Barrymore, Marguerite Skirvin, and Paul Everton, and was directed by Charles Horan. While at Metro, he became the personal cameraman for Viola Dana, shooting every film she appeared in for the studio. In November 1919, Arnold began a new fad among cameramen, when he began to wear moleskin pants. He felt that they had the dual purpose of keeping him warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Arnold was one of the charter members of the American Society of Cinematographers in 1919. He continued at Metro throughout the 1910s and into the 1920s. In April 1922, he went over to Fox Films to shoot Very Truly Yours, directed by Harry Beaumont, before returning to Metro in May to film Viola Dana's next picture, Seeing's Believing. By 1922, he had filmed every single one of Viola Dana's pictures for Metro, and had helmed the camera for 47 films for Metro. Arnold, accompanied by his wife, went on location in February 1923 to shoot the film The Fog. [[File:JohnArnold03.jpg|thumb|Arnold (left), with director Edward Cline on the set of the 1924 film, Along Came Ruth]] In 1921, Arnold was elected to the board of governors of the American Society of Cinematographers. With the advent of sound pictures in