The “I only shoot BW” photogs can sometimes do an image injustice if they stick to their dogmatic position 100%. Now, I used to be one of those types back in the 1970’s before branching out to color in the 1980’s.
(nsfw)
http://danielteolijr.tumblr.com/I would look down on the color photogs…I was a purest. It is all ego driven nonsense. The bottom line is this - let the image dictate BW or color, not your ego.
Sometimes the image will work either way. If so, do what you like. Other times it needs to be in color or BW only. Let the image decide and do what is best for the image.
Sometimes the BW fanatics materially destroy the image without thinking about it when they drop the color. Take a look at this example. It shows how you can lose important information if you put your ego first.
http://testarchives.tumblr.com/image/110723876609The above example could have worked in BW or color. But when it goes BW you lose the bluish light on the upper left. The blue light signifies the prostitute depicted in the graf is a male transsexual. So, that's what is lost in the BW version.
Ernst Hass on the subject from the 1981 book World Photography by Bryn Campbell.
"There are black and white snobs, as well as colour snobs. Because of their inability to use both well, they act on the defensive and create camps. We should never judge a photographer by what film he uses - only by how he uses it."
In my own case I do social documentary photography for love of freezing time. I don't do it for money or contests. As such I do whatever I like as long as I feel I have done the image justice and can stand behind the photo.
If I want to HDR an image...I do.
(nsfw)
http://bikermardigras.tumblr.com/image/105630766748