According to Ed White, “This was a picture taken by my teammate, James McDivitt, on the third revolution of Gemini IV. I had a specially designed spacesuit which had 21 layers of thermal and micrometeoroid protection. My face was protected by a double gold-plated visor which provided protection from the unfiltered rays of the Sun. In my hand I held a small self-maneuvering unit which gave me control of my movements in space. On my chest was an oxygen chestpack that regulated the flow of oxygen to my suit and provided an 8-minute supply of emergency oxygen. I was secured to the spacecraft by a 25-foot umbilical line and a 23-foot tether line, which were secured together and wrapped with a golden tape for thermal insulation. On the top of the Hand-held Self-Maneuvering Unit was mounted a 35mm camera to record the event from outside the spacecraft” (Cortright, p. 151).

004:34:24 McDivitt: Okay. Let me get some ..... to you, Ed. I ought to be getting some tremendous pictures of you. Let me try again with the Hasselblad.
004:34:31 White: Okay. I think I’ve exhausted my air now.
004:34:33 McDivitt: Okay.
004:34:36 McDivitt: Stay right there.
004:34:40 White: I had very good control with it. I just needed more air (on the self-maneuvering unit).
004:34:45 McDivitt: Okay. Stand by. Let me take a couple of pictures, ole buddy.
[004:34:45: McDivitt captures the present photograph]
004:34:48 White: All right.