After photographer Don “Mr. Colorado” Whitman’s passing in 1998, his Western Photography Guild archives passed to his family. Today, as far as I know, his nephew, Andy Dimler, maintains the estate and preserves Whitman’s large-format negatives, ensuring his 50-year legacy in mid-century American physique art remains accessible to modern collectors and visual historians. P.S. Notice that magnificent butt shot of Ray McGuire? He was one of Whitman’s quintessential models for the Western Photography Guild (WPG) during the mid-to-late 1950s. Because Whitman co-founded and directed the Mr. Colorado bodybuilding competition, he had direct access to the region’s top athletic talent—and McGuire was a standout, officially taking the title of Mr. Colorado 1956.
After photographer Don “Mr. Colorado” Whitman’s passing in 1998, his Western Photography Guild archives passed to his family. Today, as far as I know, his nephew, Andy Dimler, maintains the estate and preserves Whitman’s large-format negatives, ensuring his 50-year legacy in mid-century American physique art remains accessible to modern collectors and visual historians. P.S. Notice that magnificent butt shot of Ray McGuire? He was one of Whitman’s quintessential models for the Western Photography Guild (WPG) during the mid-to-late 1950s. Because Whitman co-founded and directed the Mr. Colorado bodybuilding competition, he had direct access to the region’s top athletic talent—and McGuire was a standout, officially taking the title of Mr. Colorado 1956.