Ivan Dmitri (or Dmitre) (1900 – 1968), born Levon West, was an American photographic artist. Born in Centerville, South Dakota, his father was a Congregational minister who immigrated from Armenia. The family changed their name to West when Levon and his brothers did not want to enlist in the service during World War I under their Armenian last name, Assadoorian. The name West was chosen as it was the maiden name of Levon's mother. Levon West adopted the pen name of Ivan Dmitri to use for his color photography.
When he began working with color photography, Levon West adopted the pen name "Ivan Dmitri," though he continued to use the name Levon West for his non-photographic works. 'Ivan Dmitri' was a pioneer in color photography, and wrote several books on the subject, his first being, "Color in Photography" in 1939.
The first color photographic cover on the Saturday Evening Post magazine (May 29, 1937) was by Dmitri, a photo of an Automobile racing driver seated in his race car. Another SEP cover, May 16, 1944, was a photo of General 'Hap' Arnold, with B-17's flying overhead, with a B-17 crew planning a flight. This cover was so popular that the United States used the photo image to print a war effort poster.
As a war correspondent, Dmitri traveled across the South Atlantic, Africa, Mid East and India to Chabua; and the return via North Africa, Prestwick and the North Atlantic. His color photographs provide a rare glimpse into the lives of soldiers and people he met.
GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR - DECEMBER 1942: An soldier guards a C-47 Skytrain at a United States Army Air Force base in December 1942 in Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
BERMUDA - 1943: A sailor from the US Naval Battleship USS Iowa passes a script Willys Jeep (W-20332x) while on shore leave in Bermuda. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images )
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ADEN, YEMEN - CIRCA 1943: Airmen on an M6 Bomb Servicer at a U.S. Army Air Force base circa 1943, in Aden, Yemen. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
BENGHAZI, LIBYA - AUGUST 11, 1943: Members of the 376th Bombardment Group talk in a jeep at the U.S Air Force Base in Benghazi, Libya. Note the blue circular background of the star on the rear panel of the Jeep. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
BENGHAZI, LIBYA - AUGUST 8, 1943: A view as U.S Soldiers relax on the base at the U.S Air Force base in Benghazi, Libya. Sand-colored jeep numbered USA 201425. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
BENGHAZI, LIBYA - AUGUST 16,1943: A view as crew members of the 98th Bombardment Group get a ride back to base on a repurposed FIAT SPA CL39 as bombs lay on the ground at the U.S Air Force Base in Benghazi, Libya. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Another view of the 98th Bomb Group FIAT SPA CL39. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
NATAL, BRAZIL - JUNE 1943: A view of a C-87 Liberator Express Transport plane at the Parnamirim airport at the US Army and Air Force base in Natal, Brazil. Notice the much darker shade of OD used on the Jeep and Dodge Command Car. Registration numbers on both vehicles were done in lusterless blue paint. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
NATAL, BRAZIL - JUNE 1943: A view as US servicemen at the Parnamirim airport at the US Air Force base in Natal, Brazil. The Jeep is painted in a dark OD with blue lusterless registration number. The forklift in the background appears to be painted in strata blue. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
ALGIERS,ALGERIA - AUGUST 1943: A view as an US Air Force pilot looks out his window during take off, flying from Algiers to Tunis, Tunisia. Jeep sports lusterless blue registration numbers. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, NC - 1942: A view of army soldiers on guard duty at Fort Brag in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1942 with pre-war 1-1/2 ton trucks. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
CHABUA, ASSAM, INDIA - CIRCA 1943: A view of local workers and soldiers transport an engine with a CCKW at the United States Army Air Force base in Chabua, Assam India. Circa 1943. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - CIRCA 1942: A convoy of Army trucks drives at the Las Vegas Army Air Force Airfield in Las Vegas, Nevada. Circa 1942. The suppressed Jeep with registration number 2061437 in lusterless blue paint on the hood leads a column of 1/2-ton Chevy G-506 trucks. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - CIRCA 1942: A view African American Army soldiers ride in an Army G-506 truck (registration no. W-351058) at the Las Vegas Army Air Force Airfield in Las Vegas, Nevada. Circa 1942. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - CIRCA 1942: A view as two African American Army soldiers drive a jeep at the Las Vegas Army Air Force Airfield in Las Vegas, Nevada. Circa 1942. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - CIRCA 1942: Soldiers train at the flexible gunnery training with shotguns and trap loads at the Las Vegas Army Airfield in Las Vegas, The pickup in the back is a 1/2-ton Dodge (possibly a WC-1) Nevada. Circa 1942. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
PALERMO, SICILY, ITALY - AUGUST 22,1943: US soldiers drive in the streets after Allied Invasion called "Operation Husky" in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The white bumper markings on the command car appear to be "HQ CO 10 PE NO." (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR,CANADA- DECEMBER 1942: A 1/2-ton Dodge ambulance (reg.no W-76024 in blue lusterless paint) next to a airplane on the U.S. Air Base in Goose Bay, Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR,CANADA- DECEMBER 1942: U.S Airmen use an Autocar U-7144-T 4.5-ton tractor to tow a U.S bomber onto the tarmac on the U.S. Air Base in Goose Bay, Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR,CANADA- DECEMBER 1942: U.S Airmen pull a fuel trailer with an M2 High Speed Tractor on the U.S. Air Base in Goose Bay,Labrador, Newfoundland,Canada. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR,CANADA- DECEMBER 1942: A U.S Airmen drives a jeep with chained tires on the U.S. Air Base in Goose Bay,Labrador, Newfoundland,Canada. The tools on the side of the jeep are unpainted. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR,CANADA- DECEMBER 1942: U.S Airmen stop to talk on the U.S. Air Base in Goose Bay,Labrador, Newfoundland,Canada. The Jeep on the right is a script Ford GPW. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR,CANADA- DECEMBER 1942: A view of airfield snow blowing trucks clearing snow on the U.S. Air Base in Goose Bay,Labrador, Newfoundland,Canada. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
BERMUDA - CIRCA 1943: US MB "slat grille" Jeep (reg no. 2040126) chat with U.S. Navel service men riding in a horse drawn buggy at the U.S. Navel Air Base in Bermuda. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
BERMUDA - CIRCA 1943: U.S. Marines ride OD-painted bicycles after pitching tents in a field at the U.S. Naval Air Base in Bermuda. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
