David Lynch is an auteur. His work is exceptionally distinct, with a mood and tone that’s unusually hypnotic and sensual. He’s said before that words aren’t all that important to him – that what he creates lives in its own world – and for him, discussing his work in detail means that the viewer has less room to explore on their own. This idea of cinema existing within its own realm, where the audience must absorb the work and process it themselves, is quite beautiful to me. In honor of David Lynch’s birthday and his wildly influential career, here are a few iconic stills from Blue Velvet,  Mulholland Drive, Fire Walk With Me, and Twin Peaks.