Portrait shooter bags billionaires
Portrait photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders has shot dozens of the most famous people in the world.
But he has never had an impromptu photo shoot quite like Friday's at Wynn Las Vegas.
It started with Steve Wynn in front of a camera that the famed photog described as "bigger than a Volkswagen,"
When Greenfield-Sanders showed Wynn the first attempt at a 20-by-24-inch Polaroid-like image, the casino developer was so pleased with the result he called a timeout and said, "I've got to go get the boys."
When he returned, "the boys" were fellow billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
"I felt particularly poor at the moment," said Greenfield-Sanders, who posed the trio for an iconic portrait.
Greenfield-Sanders, who also was in town to see his film "The Black List" debut at CineVegas, has photographed every living president and a slew of celebrities, including Nicole Kidman and Jenna Jameson.
SHADOW CREEK MAKEOVER
Tiger Woods won't recognize the Shadow Creek golf course he tamed several years ago with a course-record 60.
Built in 1989 by Steve Wynn as a perk for high rollers, Shadow Creek recently closed for major renovations until December.
"Golf construction techniques have advanced considerably since 1989," explained MGM Mirage honcho Bobby Baldwin, in an e-mail.
All greens, tees and fairways are being rebuilt, with some back tees lengthened to test the best in the world. Fred Couples tied Woods' 60 last fall.
But those scores "had nothing to do with the work," Baldwin said.
I made two stabs at trying to get Baldwin to comment on whether MGM Mirage might be exploring tournament possibilities at Shadow Creek, but he didn't bite.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
In a recent radio interview, Miss Nevada USA 2008 Veronica Grabowski played down her brief relationship with illusionist Criss Angel, saying it was "very casual, no big deal." But there are skeptics. During Grabowski's modeling appearance Friday in the Ed Hardy Intimates fashion show at Privé nightclub (Planet Hollywood Resort), eagle-eyed spies noticed that she has "Criss Angel" tattooed on her ring finger.
SIGHTINGS
Britney Spears, playing with the 6-week-old tiger cubs at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden at The Mirage Hotel & Casino on Saturday. She also went swimming with the dolphins in the private pool in a wetsuit. During her stay at The Mirage villas, she stopped in to check out the tops-optional Bare pool lounge. ... Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, receiving a celebrity star Sunday at Brenden Theatres at the Palms. Earlier, he was on the red carpet at Planet Hollywood Resort for the screening of "Get Smart."... Actor Dennis Hopper, dining with wife, Victoria, and daughter, Galen, at Simon at Palms Place on Saturday. They're in town for CineVegas. ... Siegfried Fishbacher and Elaine Wynn, in the audience at the Golden Rainbow "Ribbon of Life" fundraiser Sunday at Paris Las Vegas. ... At Tryst (Wynn) on Saturday: Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker, spraying the crowd with some of the 15 bottles of Dom Perignon Rose champagne he ordered. Also at the club: UFC fighter Wanderlei Silva and former NBA standout Charles Oakley. Walker later moved over to Drai's After Hours (Bill's Gamblin' Hall). ... At Privé (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Saturday: Mickey Avalon, performing his hit "Jane Fonda" with Dirt Nasty (a.k.a Simon Rex) and Andre Legacy.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Hi, it's Randy Jackson. Your last speech? A little pitchy, Dawg." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Messages Left on Barack Obama's Answering Machine
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
