For me B+W has always been just that: B+W. Using the value of B+W is what has always been known, and adding colour to a piece no longer makes it a B+W piece, it is then a B+W+Colour. Photography depicts this best, with the first photography being only in B+W. Later on sepia was used for archival stability, and colour was introduced in the late 20th century as the right chemicals were found for the recording and developing. Nowadays with digital photography and digital work artists and designers will usually opt for either a pure B+W or a colour piece, and in some they will use B+W+Colour, where the colour is used to make something stand out.
So, here we have a theme of Black and White. Surely then that means that we can only use the B+W value, as the use of colour is not mentioned in the theme or even the rules for this specific competition? People who wanted Black and White in the SOTW theme pool probably thought of it in this way: part of the appeal of black and white is its more subdued monochromatic character, and the atmosphere that it produces.
Syntex has said so long as the use of colour is subtle, but how can colour be subtle when surrounded by Black and White, causing it to stand out? If you want colour, then change the theme to Black and White and Colour, but otherwise keep to the challenge and the ultimate beauty of B+W, creating an atmosphere and a scene using a tonal range of White to Black.
Only black and white colors will be allowed in this competition.
