In February 1964, John Loengard photographed the Beatles in Miami for Life magazine during their first American tour. He came up with the idea of shooting the Beatles as bodyless floating heads in a swimming pool. As it was cold in Florida at the time, Loengard unsuccessfully tried to find a heated pool. As this was not possible, the shoot had to be done in an unheated pool instead. Unsurprisingly the Beatles ...weren't at all cooperative - they didn't want to get in - but their manager, Brian Epstein, said, 'Life is important. Get in'. and they did...

These transparencies were given to the vendor, a family friend of the photographer, after the shoot. Leongard sent them with a letter stating that ...These pictures were on the way to the waste basket, and I thought you might like to have them.