In B&W I second the recommendation for Tmax and Tri-X. If you aren't developing it yourself, consider the C-41 chromogenic films by Ilford and Kodak that you can send to the drugstore for processing. The "new" improved t-max 400 (TMY-2) is especially nice, but unforgiving of imprecision in exposure or development. It rewards the careful worker with beautiful tones and fine grain, however.
All my color work these days is digital; but the Portra and Ektachrome recommendations are sound.