There are many flavors of black-and-white photography - from brightest whites to blackest blacks and all shades of gray in between. They can be minimalist or complex. By removing the distraction of color, you focus on textures, shapes, and patterns. Monochrome images can evoke feelings that range from soothing to frightening.
And with the subtle variations of infrared, selenium, and sepia tones, the options are endless for creating nuance.