Sepias and Black and White photography has something color does not. It reproduces natural world using all possible shades of gray, all the way from white to black. Whenever I look at a Black and White photo, especially one which I have not ever seen before, I immediately begin to process the image, and paint the scene in my mind. When we cannot immediately tell color, we use our minds to reconstruct the image, as it were in real life. We pay more attention to the intricate details of a Black and White photo for this very reason. We notice very intricate details, which are otherwise lost if the same scene was captured in color. The shades of gray are a very powerful communication tool. These shades can tell us which parts of the image are cool, which are warm, which dark, and light. Shadows become much more interesting and often more intriguing when expressed in Black and White.
Tinted Black and White
Black and White photos may be reproduced using an infinite number of tints and tones. A tone of the photo communicates its mood, something that color photography, even tinted does not do nearly as well. Sepia tones communicate warmth, closeness, and of course remind us of the past. Blueish, and steel tints are great for architectural and mechanical photography. High contrast pure Black and White is excellent for Landscapes, where tonal differences are great. The options are endless, and there are no hard rules. When a photo is tinted correctly, it just feels right. A good Black and White photograph will communicate not only what has been captured, but the environment surrounding the scene.