Ilford Ultra Large Format (ULF)

Press Release:

As part of their campaign to defend the darkroom, Ilford Photo - the highly respected monochrome brand of Harman technology Limited – have announced a special initiative in support of ultra large format (ULF) photographers.

In an increasingly digital world, these photographers can find it difficult to buy the specialist analogue products they require due to a shrinking number of manufacturers and stocking dealers. However, to help ULF users overcome this limited availability, as well as the need to purchase a minimum order quantity, Ilford Photo have revealed they are running a two month ULF product ordering window.

Taking place from mid-April until the 30th June 2008, this window allows photographers to order Ilford Photo ULF sheet film products from a select group of dealers and without the worry of meeting minimum order quantities. Ilford Photo plans to combine orders from across the UK to ensure quantity requirements are met before manufacturing the required items at its production facility in Mobberley, Cheshire. Product will be despatched to arrive with dealers by approximately mid-September.

This is the third year Ilford Photo have staged the annual initiative and already it has been well received. One large format fine art photographer, Susan Harlin, who shoots landscape, architectural and environmental detail photography, said: “ULF may be a fairly specialist method of black and white photography but its practitioners are highly passionate and the medium is enjoying a resurgence with a new generation of photographers now being drawn to its benefits.”

“Both myself and my husband J.B., who also shoots nothing but large format, are extremely delighted with Harman’s long-term commitment to providing quality black and white materials for the fine art ULF community. It is refreshing to see that the future of monochrome photography is bright.”

Harman’s Sales Director, Steven Brierley, adds: “Through our Ilford Photo brand, Harman technology is committed to supporting all methods of analogue photography – large format included. At a time when many manufacturers are moving away from traditional black and white photography, we will continue to champion it and do all we can to ensure photographers can buy the products they need. The special ULF two month ordering window is just the latest evidence of this.”

Launched in mid-2007 by Ilford Photo, the Defend the Darkroom campaign aims to safeguard the future of darkrooms and associated creative techniques, while simultaneously showing how traditional analogue and digital photography can co-exist. It hopes to do this through a range of educational, promotional and customer support activities.

For more information on Ilford Photo, please visit the website.