[SoCal Pubbie]

In the age of digital printing where color is no more costly than black and white, the choice to show them in monotones can only be ascribed to effect as you note. It recasts the “photojournalism” of the article as “photoeditorializing” and dispenses with any attempt at objectivity. The piece is simply an excercise in hagiography.

[Steve_Seattle]

"The piece is simply an excercise in hagiography."

I posted my comment (post 80) before I read your comment, and I think "hagiography" is just the right word. The affectation of using b/w is clearly intended to cast the pics in an "historical" aura.