With Tri-X I use a yellow filter to keep the clouds from blending in with the sky. Will I need to do the same with Tmx or tmy?
As previously mentioned, you are unlikely to notice much difference among panchromatic films. Stronger yellow filters will cut more of the blue light though, allowing for increased definition of
defined cloud structure against against a blue sky. This will be of great assistance to you when you print the negative, giving you both a head start on darkening clear sky to communicate its character as you visualize it, and revealing cloud composition.
I've seen a lot of posts saying that tmax is balanced so that a yellow filter is not needed for natural tones, I'd just like to know if that includes clouds.
What you have read, or how you have presented it here is unspecific nonsense. Yellow filters (
not orange,
not red – unless your visualization includes
unnatural portrayals) will not dramatically affect landscape mid tones, with the only important exceptions being lightening yellowish elements and removing the blue from deep shadows. In red rock country, a green filter may be used quite effectively to assist with skies, lighten (green) foliage,
and affect "natural" landscape tones buy
darkening them. Please read the filter sections (and the rest) of
The Negative and/or
Natural Light Photography, both by Adams, who knew and communicated these concepts better and more completely than anyone on these forums, including me.
