Angelina Jolie poses with bees live for 18 minutes to recreate the portrait of the "beekeeper"
In an age when technology and photo editing software can create anything, actress Angelina Jolie decided she would choose to experience something real, especially when it was for a noble cause. The Hollywood actress was covered with hundreds of living bees in an attempt to recreate the iconic 1981 Portrait of Richard Avedon, The Beekeeper in a recent photoshoot. The image of beekeeper Ronald Fisher appeared in his book The American West.
Based on this image, recent photos of Jolie from the photoshoot were posted on Bee Day by photographer Dan Winters. The actress has collaborated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the French beauty brand, Guerlain for Women for Bees initiative.
As part of this initiative, 2,500 beehives will be built and restocked with 125 million bees by 2025, while at the same time, 50 women beekeepers will be trained and supported in their own operations. To promote this initiative, Dan mentioned in his Instagram caption, Angelina wanted to do a portrait covered with bees.
Dan, who is himself a beekeeper, said his main concern was safety, as the shooting was to take place amid a pandemic and live bees. Dan mentioned in his Instagram caption that he knew the only way to achieve the desired effect from the photo was to use the same technique Avedon used 40 years ago to create his iconic portrait.
Dan hired Konrad Bouffard, a master beekeeper, who contacted the entomologist who formulated the specific pheromone, also known as the queen mandibular pheromone or QMP, for Avedon.
In a video shared by National Geographic, Dan is seen dabbing specific pheromones on Jolie's skin to make sure the bees don't feel threatened. The shoot used the same pheromones and calmed the Italian bees that could be seen buzzing over Jolie's body.
