Brad Bradley: The 100-Year-Old Sports Photographer

Brad Bradley photographed his first Cotton Bowl in 1948 with a Graflex Speed Graphic when he was just 26 years old. When he photographs the 87th edition of the annual college football game on January 2, 2023, he will be 100 years old, having turned a century in July 2022.

Bradley has continuously covered 74 Cotton Bowls prior to 2021, which he missed due to the COVID pandemic. He is also a member of the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.

Brad’s Early Years

James T. “Brad” Bradley has been known as Brad ever since he can remember. He was destined to be a farmer before World War II interrupted his plans. After joining the services, he ordered parts for B-24 bombers in the 92nd Air Depot Group. The end of the war saw Bradley, a Technical Sergeant in the US Army Air Corps, honorably discharged in 1945.

On June 2, 1946, he tied the knot with Betty Laughead, whose father, Jim Laughhead (pronounced Lawhead), was a professional sports photographer since the 1930s. To his credit, Laughhead even had a LIFE magazine cover of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of WWII, where his photo assistant was his daughter Betty.

Bradley started helping out his father-in-law, who was also a photographer for a company that built B-24 bombers in Fort Worth, Texas. This mentorship helped Bradley learn the photographic ropes quickly and the two became a team.

“Most of Brad’s photo training came on the job with Laughead except for Kodak sponsored sessions focusing on color photography and architectural design,” says Floyd Stanley, who is married to Bradley’s daughter Iris.

“He [Laughead] was a good teacher,” Bradley tells PetaPixel. “He had patience with me. One of the things that I did that I was quite proud of was not only did I have the responsibility of photography but also, he tapped me on the shoulder and said go out and call on some businesses and see if we can get some work in the city of Dallas.”

This led to a long-term relationship producing newsletter photos for the Ford Motor assembly plant in Dallas.

March, 2022. Brad Bradley recreates gaining perspective on the action before bringing a Leica M5 to his eye. Photo by Tim Pugliese.

“Huck ‘n’ Buck” Football Photography

Action photography was not common in football then, and the duo started the iconic “huck ‘n’ buck” action pose for football players. This was a technique of posing athletes to appear as if they were in action.

Chicago Bears training camp, probably early 1960s. Shot from the knees on a Speed Graphic camera mounted on an angled metal frame nailed to the field, with a pre-fixed focus. Dick Butkus prepares to launch into the iconic “Death Dive” posed action shot. You can faintly see the chalk mark that Butkus is supposed to hit before leaving his feet. © James T. “Brad” Bradley
Dick Butkus gleefully completes the “Death Dive” posed action photo sequence. © James T. “Brad” Bradley

The poses may look contrived by today’s standards, but even Sports Illustrated was running only illustrations on its cover and inside for color action images in those days.

The “huck ‘n buck” concept began when the photographic duo was shooting at Mississippi State, and one of the Bulldogs’ linebackers was having difficulty getting his footwork right for a good “posed” action pic. The photographers asked him to run laterally while crossing his legs and shifting his arms from side to side.

Progress was only made after many attempts when a teammate asked the linebacker to do the Hucklebuck Dance, which was all the rage on campuses in the 1950s.

Atlanta Falcons spring training, 1972. Roosevelt Manning of the Atlanta Falcons follows through on the iconic “Death Dive” photo series. He might look like he was having fun – and they all did, says Brad. This photo was made into a life-size cutout and posted in the College Football Hall of Fame “Huck ‘n Buck” exhibit featuring Bradley and Laughead. © James T. “Brad” Bradley
1972 Spring Training, Atlanta Falcons. Shot from the knees on a Speed Graphic camera mounted on an angled metal frame nailed to the field, with a pre-fixed focus. Roosevelt Manning adds his name to the scores of athletes who have participated in the iconic “Death Dive” posed action photo. © James T. “Brad” Bradley

The modern meaning of the word viral was not in use in those days, but at all football fields, photographers soon began asking their athletes to come “Huckin and Buckin.” And a perfect phrase for posed-action shots was born.

Shooting Sports with a Speed Graphic View Camera

The Speed Graphic was a press camera — a medium/large format view camera used by press photographers in the early to mid-20th century — produced by Graflex in Rochester, New York. The “speed” in the name refers to the maximum shutter speed of 1/1000 sec. using the focal plane shutter.

The camera was very slow to use. Firstly, slit width and spring tension had to be selected for the focal plane shutter. You then had to insert a film holder, open the lens shutter, cock the focal plane shutter, remove the dark slide in front of the film, focus the camera, and then click the shutter.

Graflex Speed Graphic David, CC BY-SA 2.0

“You didn’t have much depth of field,” says Bradley. “Of course, because of the speed of the game, we had to use a higher [shutter] speed on the camera, and that reduces the depth of field. So, we had to anticipate where the football was going to be.

“We shot from the sideline. The only time we were ever in a different location was for an end zone play.”

Brad with his Speed Graphic © Tim Pugliese

Modifying Speed Graphics to Take Roll Film Holders

One of the problems was using sheet film in film holders, which allowed just two exposures per holder by flipping it after each shot. And photographers would have to carry multiple preloaded film holders onto the field.

1965 spring training, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Color transparency shot from a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, 90-100mm lens, 100-125 shutter. Quarterback Joe Namath poses for the camera – as he still does today. © James T. “Brad” Bradley
May 3, 2019, SMU Athletics Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, SMU. Brad Bradley is all dressed up as he receives the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame award. He is only the second person to ever receive this award, following legendary SMU coach Hayden Fry. Photo by SMU. © Kevin Gaddis Jr

“It was so much easier to reload after we started using 90 mm film that Kodak had,” explains the centenarian. “Of course, we had to get in a dark room to change that film. After Kodak made the 90 mm film that was exactly 4 x 5, it was possible to use it in a Speed Graphic.

“After we got the 90 mm film, our football activity was so much easier than it ever was before. It was just a miserable thing to change all the film holders before… It was kind of like a new life for us.

“The Kodak cartridge held about 75 shots, I believe. We had a guy who repaired our cameras and was also good at building things. He drilled holes into the back of our cameras, and we had screws that would hold the film cartridge up against the cameras. We had maybe a dozen of those film holders and that’s all we needed.”

Jan. 1, 1971, Texas vs. Notre Dame, Cotton Bowl. Kodak Ektachrome 35 mm slide. Shot from the sideline with a hand-held Leica camera (probably M2), 90mm lens. Billy Dale (22) can’t escape a Fighting Irish tackler as Notre Dame ruins an undefeated season and 30-game winning streak for the Longhorns. Notre Dame 24-11. © James T. “Brad” Bradley
Baltimore Orioles Spring Training. Miami, probably February 1968. Shot hand-held with a Speed Graphic camera and Kodak 3.5×5 color transparency film, 100-150 shutter at probably f8. Brooks Robinson, Hall of Fame 3rd baseman for the Baltimore Orioles poses for the season’s Topps baseball card. Zoom in on the bat and you can read his signature on the barrel. “I had real good luck with my focus,” says Brad. © James T. “Brad” Bradley

SMU, Dallas Cowboys, and the NCAA

Bradley and Laughead started with SMU [Southern Methodist University] in 1947 when they got the contract to do yearbook pictures.

“Our job was to photograph the student body,” remembers Bradley. “Up until that time, Laughead had done sports for SMU, mainly football. It was a learning experience for us, and along the way, SMU was having one of its best years in football, and even though it was a lot of work, it was a great joy to be around at that time.

“That association has lasted all these years, although we don’t do as much work as we once did because they’ve added photographers to their staff.”

November 28, 1968. Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins at Dallas. Shot from the sideline with a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, 90-100mm lens, 5,6 or maybe f8 aperture based on the apparent available light and depth of field, 1/100 shutter, predicted focus in advance of play, 90mm film. Jethro Pugh (75) continues to make life difficult for the Redskins as quarterback Jim Ninowski (11) digs in. Cowboys 29-20. © James T. “Brad” Bradley
Nov. 11, 1965. Browns vs. Cowboys, Dallas Cotton Bowl. Shot from the sideline with a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, 90-100mm lens, f8 or maybe f11 aperture based on the apparent available light and depth of field, 1/100 shutter, predicted focus in advance of play, 90mm film. Jim Brown (32) gained 99 yards and the Browns overcame a late Cowboys rally to win 24-17. © James T. “Brad” Bradley

Bradley had a ring-side view of the birth of the Dallas Cowboys franchise in the 1960s. He has photographed Tex Schram, the original president and GM of the Dallas Cowboys franchise of the National Football League.

Oct. 21, 2015, SMU Athletic Forum, Dallas. A tall order: Brad Bradley greets Shaquille O’Neal after taking VIP photos at a reception preceding the SMU Athletic Forum program. Shot with an iPhone camera. Photo by James “Jimmy” Bradley 2nd. © James T. “Brad” Bradley
Oct. 11, 1963, Navy vs. SMU, Dallas Cotton Bowl. Shot from the sideline with a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, camera mounted flash, 90-100mm lens, likely f8 aperture, 1/200 shutter, predicted focus in advance of play, 4×5 film. Roger “The Dodger” Staubach works his magic vs. SMU in his Heisman Trophy-winning season, but cannot overcome the Mustangs, 32-28. © James T. “Brad” Bradley

As the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) grew, so did the scope of Bradley’s work.

“During those years, my job was to go to wherever the NCAA had yearly meetings during the second week of January, after the bowl games,” Bradley says. “We went all over the entire country over a period of about 7 or 8 years. I have never enjoyed anything more than all of that because, in that process, we met people that we had worked with in football. […]”

“LSU [Louisiana State University] was primarily responsible for that [growth]. The athletic director, in about 1954, said, ‘I want to involve you more with Southeast Conference schools.’ With that, he picked up the phone and called Auburn, the second school we did after LSU. After that, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida [and more].”

February 19, 2016, Doak Walker Awards Banquet, Dallas. Brad Bradley (center) instructs Alabama Doak Walker and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry (standing) as Oklahoma State Doak Walker Legend and Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders battles the flu. After sitting for pictures with VIPs the previous night, Henry stated, “I want my picture taken with THAT man,” motioning toward Brad. Shot with an iPhone camera. Photo by James “Jimmy” Bradley 2nd.

Bradley has also photographed professional baseball teams, including the Cardinals, Cubs, Twins, Braves (Milwaukee), Orioles, Yankees, Red Sox, Reds, Indians, Tigers, White Sox, Senators (now the Twins), Mets, A’s, Phillies, Angels, Padres, Giants, Pirates, Giants, Dodgers, and Brewers.

The sports photographer also had an assignment of photographing President Ronald Reagan at Dallas Love Field Airport.

An Eyewitness to Integration in Football

In 1948, Penn State had two Black players – Wally Triplett and Dennie Hoggard.

Triplett became the first African-American to play in the previously segregated Cotton Bowl, although he had to stay in a separate facility from the rest of his teammates because no hotels in the Dallas area would allow blacks and whites to stay together. Triplett scored the final touchdown in a 13-13 tie with SMU. Pro Football Hall of Fame

“SMU absolutely had no concern about playing the game,” remembers Bradley. “To me, the climax was, the game was a tie, and after the game was over, both teams came back to SMU and sat down to dinner at the student union. To me, equally [great], was the way that SMU handled Jerry LeVias [first Black player in the Southwest Conference]. I thoroughly enjoyed Jerry, and I think he considers me a friend.”

Jan. 1, 1949. Oregon vs. SMU at Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Shot with a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, 90-100mm lens, 5,6 aperture, 1/100 shutter, predicted focus in advance of play, 4×5 film. An SMU Mustangs runner (likely Kyle Rote) confronts Oregon defenders in the open field as SMU wins 21-13. © James T. “Brad” Bradley
Oct. 23, 1960, Dallas Cowboys vs. St. Louis Cardinals at St. Louis. Shot from the sideline with a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, 90-100mm lens, 5,6 or maybe f8 aperture based on the apparent available light and depth of field, 100-125 shutter, predicted focus in advance of play, 4×5 film. The Cardinals kicker sends the ball through, if not into, the line of scrimmage. St. Louis 12-10. © James T. “Brad” Bradley

When USC came to Alabama in 1970, it was the first time a fully integrated team was playing in the state.

“Alabama called me and asked me to come to the game,” says Bradley. “I remember specifically that both teams were on the field, and coach Bear Bryant was standing in one of the end zones.

“I went down there and talked to him a little bit. He was always friendly to me anyway. He told me he would be glad when the game was over. I think he somewhat dreaded playing the game. It ended up in such a way that the Southeastern Conference decided that to be more competitive, they had to recruit Black players.”

Age is Just a Number, Even When it is 100

Bradley says he owes his tremendous energy and strength at age 100 to the pleasure of his job.

“I just felt so good, so positive, about the job that we were doing that it gave me the courage to continue,” says the sports shooter. Today if I have a job in photography, I feel like it needs to be done in the best possible way.

“I was blessed with energy and strength to endure some parts of the game that were tiring. I’ve always been able to rest a little bit and then get back up and do it again.”

November 28, 1968, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins at Dallas. Shot from the back of the end zone with a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, 90-100mm lens, 5,6 aperture, 1/100 shutter, predicted focus in advance of play, 90mm film. Jethro Pugh (75) and George Andrie (66) set their sights on Washington quarterback Jim Ninowski (11). Cowboys 29-20. © James T. “Brad” Bradley
Oct. 30, 1960, St. Louis Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Cotton Bowl. Shot from the sideline with a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, 90-100mm lens, 5,6 aperture based on the apparent available light and depth of field, 100-125 shutter, predicted focus in advance of play, 4×5 film. As was the case with much of the Cowboys’ inaugural season, Dallas quarterback Eddie LeBaron struggles to find passing room against the Cardinals. St. Louis 12-10. © James T. “Brad” Bradley

In 1984 New York Mayor Ed Koch organized a ticker-tape parade honoring triumphant U.S. Olympic athletes with a total medal tally of 250. Brad walked the entire parade backward as he wanted to focus on the action continuously.

Oct. 23, 1960. Dallas Cowboys vs. St. Louis Cardinals at St. Louis. Shot with a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, 90-100mm lens, 5.6 or maybe 4 aperture based on the apparently available light, 100-125 shutter, predicted focus in advance of play, 4×5 film. David Sherer of the Dallas Cowboys punts from deep in his own territory. St. Louis 12-10. © James T. “Brad” Bradley
Jan. 1, 1949, Oregon vs. SMU, Cotton Bowl. Shot with a hand-held Speed Graphic camera, 90-100mm lens, 5,6 aperture, 1/100 shutter, predicted focus in advance of play, 4×5 film, negative corrupted with apparent water droplet. Oregon attempts a late-game comeback bid with this touchdown pass, but the SMU running game of Doak Walker and Kyle Rote was too much to overcome. SMU 21-13. © James T. “Brad” Bradley

Bradley’s first digital camera was the Nikon D90, but he did not shoot any sports photos with it. His first digital camera for work was the Nikon D300S.

“Last year I did the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame induction, shot pictures in the press box at the game, did SMU Athletic Forum, Tate Lecture Series, and Doak Walker Award,” says the now digital sports photographer.

Brad works a team photo shoot on a blustery day with a Nikon D300 camera.

And no, Bradley has not taken up shooting photos with a smartphone… yet.


If you know other photographers still working at age 100 anywhere in the world, please let us know as we may be interested in telling their story.


About the author: Phil Mistry is a photographer and teacher based in Atlanta, GA. He started one of the first digital camera classes in New York City at The International Center of Photography in the 90s. He was the director and teacher for Sony/Popular Photography magazine’s Digital Days Workshops. You can reach him here.


Image credits: Header photo (composite) © James T. “Brad” Bradley

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