The potential of black and white can be vastly expanded upon with such considerations:

Light and Dark Contrast

Compressed tonal range (black & white with minimal range of gray tones in-between)

Significant Over-Exposure / Overall Light in Density

Image is overall very light, but retains detail information in the Highlights (brightest areas of image)

Significant Under-Exposure / Overall Dark in Density

Image is overall very dark, but retains detail information in the Shadows (darkest areas of image)

© Daido Moriyama, from series, Dogs and Meshtights

© Josef Koudelka, Slovakia, Jarabina, 1963

© Irving Penn, Jean Patchett for Vogue, 1950

© Harry Callahan, Eleanor, 1947

© Harry Callahan, Grasses in the Snow, 1943

© Graciela Iturbide, Señor de los pájaros, Nayarit, México, 1984

© David Heath, Central Park, New York City, 1962

© Kenro Izu, Still Life #773, 1998

© Sarah Moon, Issey Miyake,1996

© Josuf Sudek, In the Magic Garden, 1958

© Ray K. Metzker, Atlantic City, 1966

© Berenice Abbott, Night View, New York City, 1932