2. [Gemini IV] FIRST U.S. SPACE WALK: Ed White floating in space over New Mexico James McDivitt, 3-7 June 1965 Printed 1965. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image S-65-30433]. Numbered "NASA S-65-30433" in red in the top margin, with NASA caption and "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas). 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context This sublime photograph, bursting with vivid colours, captures Ed White during his historic spacewalk outside the Gemini spacecraft. Suspended between the infinite blackness of space and the vibrant blue expanse of Earth, White's relaxed yet purposeful posture conveys the awe and exhilaration of floating freely in zero gravity. James McDivitt captured this iconic image over New Mexico facing southwest from his Command Pilot seat in the Gemini capsule, using a NASA-modified Hasselblad 500C camera and 70mm Eastman Kodak Ektachrome MS film. Ed White appears in sharp detail, his gold-plated visor reflecting the brilliance of the sun while obscuring his face, emphasizing both his isolation and the universality of the human endeavour. The winding tether, wrapped in gold tape, loops artistically around him, creating a dynamic and almost sculptural visual element that conveys both the fragility and elegance of his presence in space. The Earth's blue expanse and scattered clouds with the Gulf of California and Baja California visible over White's left shoulder provide a stunning backdrop, contrasting the boundless black void of space. White holds the Hand-Held Self-Manoeuvring Unit (HHSMU), a "space gun" that he used to navigate and control his movements during the EVA. Reflecting on the experience, McDivitt recalled: "Ed was on a long string, so to speak, and when he'd get out to the end of the line, the tension in it slowed him down, then pulled him back toward the point where the spacecraft was fastened. As he was floating away from the spacecraft and as he moved around, I could look out the hatch and see him against the background of the Earth. That was rather impressive." (Schick and Van Haaften, p. 35) From the mission transcript during the EVA: 004:38:12 McDivitt: Okay. Ed, just free-float around. Right now we're pointing just about straight down at the ground. 004:38:14 White: Okay, now I'm taking a look back at the adapter and equipment back there. I can see the separation plane; it's quite clean. The thrusters are clean. The thermal paint, the thermal stripping looks quite good. Also, the Velcro that we put on seems to be in good shape right by the camera. I'm coming back down on the spacecraft. I can sit up here and see the whole California coast. 004:38:58 White: Okay. Now I'm going to go out and see how much... if I've got enough harness. 004:39:26 White: The sky sure is black.