This picture, along with the others in this arrangement, all feature a title in which the subject of the picture is plainly described. There are no detailed descriptions or links leading to articles which might produce background knowledge, even though we know from the characters that the picture’s context is one of cultural and political change. This picture was probably intended for the american public by LBJ staff to not only view and gain support for him, but also to influence the country to see who the problem is affecting and its importance. Adding the character of a role model such as the president demands a kind of respect for the issue at hand. Based on this picture of LBJ, we can assume the situation and tone only from what we see. From his posture, to the positioning of objects and other people in the room, to the color choice, and the gaze of the individuals; all leading to a compound understanding of that moment in time. 

For example, when we look at the position of everyone in the room, the president is sitting forward, showing he is engaged in the conversation, as are the other men, who seem to be intently listening to him. His arms are open, suggesting he is presenting the group with some sort of idea, and has taken his glasses off to show that he is taking the conversation seriously. The others have their hands folded, showing that they are listening to what he has to say, and the man on the middle right is fidgeting with his ring finger; a sign of nerves and anxiousness. Perhaps he is afraid of the possible solutions, or that there may be no solutions. There are tea cups on the table, which takes away the more serious tone of the meeting and makes it appear more of a casual discussion between friends. There is a small portion of a leg in the left corner and part of a hand in the lower right corner, implying there are more than just the 4 men and the photographer in the room, possibly one or more people out of shot. The proximity of these partial body parts to the camera almost makes you feel like you are in the room with them, sitting next to these people, that hand being in your peripheral vision and the camera is from your perspective.

As for the design and effect, having the president in the shot immediately increases the importance of the situation for the viewer and gives more of a nationalistic feel. The photographer chose to put LBJ in the center of the photo, with the others are to the side of him with some space in between them. The chair LBJ is sitting in is even more elaborate and nicer that the ones given to the civil right’s leaders while they sit on couches close to one another. The location adds more to the significance the president is taking to help with Civil Rights. This meeting appears to be held in the Oval Office, not some back room somewhere in the White House. The colors of the photo are black and white, void of any influenced emotion. If the picture had real colors or brighter colors, we might get a softer feel, or a happier tone. Using black and white leaves the emotional outcome up to the viewer, relying only of the physical aspects of the picture instead of the color gradient.

The subtle hints in the background can add to the overall effect as well whether we register it or not. For instance, The president is the only one in the picture who has a light source behind him, giving the impression that he has a halo given to him, as if he is the messiah for the nation and the answer to it’s problems. The lighting of the room is very even, aside from the brightness streaming in from the windows. There are no areas of the room that they darkened to put focus on anything else, as to put an emphasis on everything. The location adds more to the significance the president is taking to help with Civil Rights. This meeting appears to be held in the Oval Office, not some back room somewhere in the White House.

All of these components contributed equally to not only the advances of the movement, but to the message of the picture. This photograph is a perfect representation of how each individual element of a picture, painting, or portrait and its context can affect how we view it and how it affects us. 