- Was one of the 15 founding members of the American Society of Cinematographers in 1919, and was the first to have its initials "ASC" listed after his name in a film's credits (for Sand (1920)).
- Father of Joseph A. August Jr.
- Died of a heart attack on the set of Portrait of Jennie (1948), at the Selznick Studios in Culver City, California. Lee Garmes completed the film without credit.
- Although long considered one of Hollywood's top cameramen, August received only one Oscar nomination, posthumously, for Portrait of Jennie (1948).
- Buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California, curbside in the Pinecrest section, Lot 1340.
- Was a favorite cameraman of director John Ford. They collaborated on 15 films between 1925 and 1945. During World War II August served in Ford's photographic unit of the OSS, making documentaries for the Navy Department. Both men were wounded filming the Battle of Midway in June 1942.
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