Shooting black and white landscapes

[Noah B]

I've shot many rolls of kodak, fuji, and ilford. My absolute favorite is fuji acros and I love the midtones, it's silvery goodness! I started shooting 5x7 a few months ago and unfortunately acros isn't offered in that size. I shot 4 boxes of hp5, but found it too contrasty (in d-76), and then started using XTOL and it came under control a bit. I decided to shoot fp4 on the advice of a colleague and I like it a lot better than hp5. I would say the most important factor in determining how a type of film looks is what developer you use. I used d76 and my highlights got blown out, but when I switched to XTOL it toned those down making it a lot easier when printing. Food 4 thought!

[drew.saunders]

Currently, I have only used Ilford HP5+, 400 speed, for black and white.

You can certainly stick with HP5+, but you may not need the extra speed for LF, especially if you want to shoot wide open, so you might want to consider FP4+ as well or instead.

So, I'm really just looking to see from more experienced large format shooters if there is a film that you swear by and for what reasons, so I can be more informed in my purchasing of film in the future?

If you ask 10 experienced photographers for the absolute single best film and developer combination, you'll get 11 definitive answers! Nothing wrong with sticking with Ilford.

[John Kasaian]

Good grief! This has degenerated into an Ilford vs Kodak thread!
Since the OP already "knows" Ilford HP-5+ I'd suggest sticking with it unless he wants to learn a new emulsion.
Plenty of great landscapes have been shot on Ilford HP-5+ (and FP-4+)
Kodak TMY and TXP are certainly impressive films too, especially TMY if you can find them in stock and can afford the price (probaby not too difficult with 4x5 but a PITA if you're shooting larger formats)

[kev curry]

Chosing film is personal and comes down to your own aesthetic. You'll find that you'll like the look and feel of certain film and developer combinations over others. I would urge you to ignore any advice that claims that this or that film is the best. Thats exactly the sort of advice that sets new photographers focus on searching for rainbows and magic bullets instead of focusing their attention on the art of photography. Its the wrong place to focus your energy. The best advice from some of the best people is to try a few films and developer combinations then stick with one film and one developer and get to know it as best you can. Concentrate your artistic energies on your photography and learn how to work with the materials that you feel best express your artistic vision. If your keeping your costs down you should try a box of Foma 100 its half the price of the other big name brands. Read all about it here and on other forums. Its looks beautiful in PMK developer out of my eyes. I feel the same with HP5 in PMK or ID11. But its all personal.

[Brian Ellis]

I don't think there's any film that's "best" for landscape. Any normal film from a recognized manufacturer that's properly exposed (based on your personal film speed tests or experience or Sunny 16 or whatever else works for you) and processed (based on your personal development time tests or experience, etc.) should work fine.

I used HP5+ rated at 200.I liked a 400 speed film because that allows for a faster shutter speed than 100 speed and at the print sizes I typically made (11x14, occasionally 16x20) I didn't see any significant adverse effects between it and TMax 100 (the 100 speed film I occasionally used when Readyloads were still around). In my experience faster shutter speeds can often be useful in landscape photography when a gentle breeze is moving foliage around a little. I tried TMax 400 and didn't care for it but that was a long time ago, before Kodak changed it and apparently improved it.

More important IMHO than picking a particular film is to not jump around all the time from one film and developer to another in search of the perfect film. Pick one, learn how to expose and process it, and stick with it for a year or so. If at that point there's something you don't like about it try something else. I think the HP5 you're using is an excellent choice to start with. I processed it in D76 1-1 FWIW.

I wouldn't worry much about Kodak vs Ilford in terms of future availability. Nobody can predict the future and in any event the history of photography has always been one of discontinuing somebody's favorite material. The only difference today is that there are fewer companies and fewer materials than there used to be when Dupont, Agfa, et al were still in the business.

[joselsgil]

I don't have the money that large format requires, but my heart has been stolen. So, I'm really just looking to see from more experienced large format shooters if there is a film that you swear by and for what reasons, so I can be more informed in my purchasing of film in the future?

If you are on a tight budget, (who isn't these days). Look into Arista EDU film sold thru Freestyle Photographic Supply. It is available in ISO 100 and 400 speeds.