Angelina Jolie was 'covered in bees for 18 minutes' for viral photoshootHollywood megastar Angelia Jolie is known to support various humanitarian and environmental causes. The actor has now extended support to another cause- bee keeping.

The actress recently did a photo shoot for National Geographic magazine to promote bee conservation on World Bee Day (May 20). For the bizarre yet unique shoot, Jolie had to sit covered in hundreds of bees for almost 18 minutes.

Calmly sitting against a black background, Jolie can be seen in a white, off-shoulder Gabriela Hearst dress, looking straight at the camera.

The shoot was done by famous photographer Dan Winters who said the only way to achieve desired results for the photo “was to use the same technique that Avedon used 40 years ago to create his iconic portrait “The Beekeeper”.”

Dan says that calm Italian bees were used for the shoot and everyone on set, except for Angelina, had to wear bee suit for protection but the actress’ safety was ensured.

“I hired my friend Konrad Bouffard, a master beekeeper, to help execute the idea. Konrad contacted the entomologist who formulated the specific pheromone (known as queen mandibular pheromone or QMP) for Avedon and worked with him to capture the unparalleled image of beekeeper Ronald Fisher that appeared in his book The American West. The entomologist offered to let us use some of the pheromone from the Avedon shoot. We used calm Italian bees. Everyone on set, except Angelina, had to be in a bee suit for protection. I applied the pheromone by hand in the places on her where I wanted bees to congregate. The bees are attracted to the pheromone, but it also encourages them not to swarm. Angelina stood perfectly still, covered in bees for 18 minutes without a sting. Being around bees is always an experience that leaves me in awe. I feel like our offering for World Bee Day has its own roots in photographic history. Creating this portrait exactly 40 years later, not only honors bees and beekeepers everywhere today, but also honors Richard Avedon, his iconic image and the technique by which it was achieved. Happy World Bee Day!” Dan said.

Speaking on the experience, Angelina said, “"With so much we are worried about around the world, [bee conservation] is one issue that we can manage. We can certainly all step in and do our part.”

Jolie is working with UNESCO and Guerlain on a Women for Bees initiative that will ultimately build 2,500 bee hives and restock 125 million bees by 2025—while training and supporting 50 women beekeepers.

Source : DNA India