Western Photography Guild was a physique photography studio operated in Denver Colorado from 1947 until the late 1980's by photographer Don Whitman. Today reprints are available from Don Whitman's original negatives. The purpose of this guide is to give details about these reprints.
The Western Photography Guild Film Archive is maintained by Don Whitman's family in Denver Colorado. Reprints are currently being made by Don's nephew Andy Dimler and Andy's daughter, Myra Dimler. Photographs are printed on Ilfords warmtone pearl finish RC paper, and Ilfords warmtone fiber base semi-matte paper. These papers were selected because the image quality is similar to that of the beautiful photographic papers used in the 1950's and 1960's. The prints are made in the darkroom by traditional photographic process. Whitman's negatives are mostly 4x5 size and were shot using a Speed Graphic field camera. Whitman's earliest images were made on 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 (half plate) probably using a "baby" speed graphic. WPG reprints bear a unique studio hallmark stamp on the back that includes Don Whitman's name as well as zip plus four in the address. This was done to prevent confusion with prints made in the years when the Western Photography Guild studio was still in operation.
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