Legendary cinematographer Robert Richardson -- who has worked on films like "Aviator" and "Hugo" -- was arrested Friday night on suspicion of DUI, this according to law enforcement sources.

Our sources tell us ... the three-time Oscar winner was driving around Los Angeles last night around 9:25 PM when he was pulled over for a traffic violation.

We're told the officer on scene smelled alcohol on his breath and asked Richardson to get out of the car to perform field sobriety tests ... which, according to our sources, he totally BOMBED.

According to our sources, Richardson was then hauled off to the police station where he blew almost TWICE the legal limit.

Richardson spent the night in jail and was released early this morning.

FYI -- The dude's resumé is pretty amazing ... he did the cinematography for "Django Unchained," "Hugo," "Shutter Island," "Inglorious Basterds," "Eat, Pray, Love" "The Horse Whisperer" and "A Few Good Men" ... just to name a few.