Photographers today have some amazing tools available to them in the digital darkroom! The ability to to produce either a color or black and white image from a digital file today gives the photographer great control and allows vision, experimentation and choice in bringing the final image to life as a fine print. I recently started using Silver Efex Pro, a photo shop plug-in from Nik Software, and for someone who originally did B&W burning,dodging, and toning in the chemical darkroom , the control over the image that this digital tool allows is is amazing. As an example I present a macro image of Broadleaf Chasmanthium, a grass species I photographed this Summer in Oklahoma. Although I do really like the color image, I believe the B&W version is a bit more “artistic” and has its own unique beauty. As an artist I find it very liberating to have such tools available to me as I pursue my creative vision to capture the beauty the natural world.
Stephen Weaver Photography/Earth Systems Imaging : The Art of the Landscape 