Brad Tollefson

Professional Photojournalist

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Photos of the Year: 2018

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Another year is in the books. And 2018 was one to remember for many reasons. In the spring I was able to follow along as Tech basketball went to Dallas for the NCAA tournament, and then I traveled to Omaha as baseball made it to the College World Series. In fall I covered all twelve football games for the first time.
Additionally, it was my busiest year to date for freelance work. Filled with many new clients and several repeats. As evidenced by some of the pictures below.

Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State

By dumb luck I caught Brandone Francis falling backwards after being accidentally hit by OSU’s Lindy Waters.

Texas Tech's Brandone Francis (1) falls down after being hit on the chin by Oklahoma State's Lindy Waters (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
Texas Tech’s Brandone Francis (1) falls down after being hit on the chin by Oklahoma State’s Lindy Waters (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)

Lloyd Arthur’s Dry Farm

Through an especially dry winter, many farmers worried about when a rainfall would occur to give them a chance to plant their crops. Incidentally, the rain in September and October delayed the harvest by at least a month for many.

Lloyd Arthur demonstrate how the dry soil can blow away in the wind, Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, near Ralls, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Lloyd Arthur demonstrate how the dry soil can blow away in the wind, Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, near Ralls, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Patricia Trifilo

Dr. Patricia Trifilo the director of WBUonline, the distance learning program at Wayland Baptist University, Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, in Plainview, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/E-learn Magazine)
Dr. Patricia Trifilo the director of WBUonline, the distance learning program at Wayland Baptist University, Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, in Plainview, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/E-learn Magazine)

Rene Saldana

Similarly to Dr. Trifilo

Dr. Rene Saldana, Jr., an associate professor of education at Texas Tech, photographed on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 in Lubbock, Texas. (HMH/Brad Tollefson)
Dr. Rene Saldana, Jr., an associate professor of education at Texas Tech, photographed on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 in Lubbock, Texas. (HMH/Brad Tollefson)

Robert Rogers

Robert Rogers, a local artist and jeweler, is a feature artist in the Lubbock Arts Festival, photographed on Thursday, March 1, 2018 in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Robert Rogers, a local artist and jeweler, is a feature artist in the Lubbock Arts Festival, photographed on Thursday, March 1, 2018 in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Blue Sky Farms

Then before taking to the skies to Kansas City for the Big 12 Basketball Tournament, I was out on a dairy farm in Friona. The Pioneers Magazine published by UTHealth School of Public Health sent me up to Blue Sky Farms to follow a couple of researchers as a part of the cover story for the annual issue.

Harry DeWit reaches out to pet a cow after it was milked Monday, March 5, 2018, at Blue Sky Farms High Plains Dairy near Friona, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/Pioneers Magazine)
Harry DeWit reaches out to pet a cow after it was milked Monday, March 5, 2018, at Blue Sky Farms High Plains Dairy near Friona, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/Pioneers Magazine)

Texas Tech vs. Florida Basketball

Jarrett Culver and Malik Ondigo celebrate together following the Red Raiders’ first win in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 13 years.

Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver (23) and Malik Ondigo (21) celebrate after an NCAA college basketball tournament second-round game against Florida, Saturday, March 17, 2018, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver (23) and Malik Ondigo (21) celebrate after an NCAA college basketball tournament second-round game against Florida, Saturday, March 17, 2018, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Record Hot Wheels Track

A group of Monterey students set out to break the record for longest Hot Wheels. At the end of the track, they rigged it to shoot confetti in the air.

The crowd cheers in the confetti after Monterey students broke the record for worlds longest Hot Wheels track during the Lubbock Arts Festival, Saturday, April 14, 2018, at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
The crowd cheers in the confetti after Monterey students broke the record for worlds longest Hot Wheels track during the Lubbock Arts Festival, Saturday, April 14, 2018, at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

5A Regional Golf

Every year when covering the regional golf tournaments I generally focus on our area athletes. And then if a player in the grouping I’m following gets caught in a hazard I’ll start shooting them. Amarillo’s Colby Flow was stuck in a series of consecutive bunkers at the bottom of the 8 hole. I made my way behind him as he tried to hit it onto the green a couple layers up.

Amarillo's Colby Flow hits the ball out of the sand trap during the 5A boy's regional golf tournament, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Rawls Golf Course in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Amarillo’s Colby Flow hits the ball out of the sand trap during the 5A boy’s regional golf tournament, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Rawls Golf Course in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

4th on Broadway

Kids on a float spray water at the crowd during the 4th on Broadway Parade, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Kids on a float spray water at the crowd during the 4th on Broadway Parade, Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Citizens Tower Tour

The city is in the middle of renovating the new site of city hall. And yes, those are trees in Lubbock.

Lubbock mayor Dan Pope looks out the window of the seventh floor during a tour of Citizen's Tower, Monday, July 16, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. Citizen's Tower will house City Hall once renovations are complete. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Lubbock mayor Dan Pope looks out the window of the seventh floor during a tour of Citizen’s Tower, Monday, July 16, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. Citizen’s Tower will house City Hall once renovations are complete. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Tre King

I always enjoy large windows when I can use them in portraits. Here is Texas Tech running back Tre King inside the new sports performance center before the season began.

Texas Tech's Tre King (24), Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Tre King (24), Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Mural Painting

A group of kids paint a mural with the East Side Arts Camp, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, at Roots Community Revitalization Center in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
A group of kids paint a mural with the East Side Arts Camp, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, at Roots Community Revitalization Center in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Lacey Edge

Lacey Edge walks around with the school's horses in the pasture, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, at West Texas A&M Horse Center in Canyon, Texas. Edge has gelded more than 100 stallions with her mom since 2010 as part of Operation Gelding. (Brad Tollefson/Out Here Magazine)
Lacey Edge walks around with the school’s horses in the pasture, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, at West Texas A&M Horse Center in Canyon, Texas. Edge has gelded more than 100 stallions with her mom since 2010 as part of Operation Gelding. (Brad Tollefson/Out Here Magazine)

Jodey Arrington

Rep. Jodey Arrington talks about the honor of Cadet Col. Andrew Allison receiving the General Carl A. Spaatz Award during a ceremony, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, at Silent Wings Museum in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Rep. Jodey Arrington talks about the honor of Cadet Col. Andrew Allison receiving the General Carl A. Spaatz Award during a ceremony, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, at Silent Wings Museum in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Texas Tech vs. Mississippi Football

Texas Tech's T.J. Vasher (9) catches the pass over Mississippi's Javien Hamilton (21) during the season opener, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s T.J. Vasher (9) catches the pass over Mississippi’s Javien Hamilton (21) during the season opener, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

South Plains Fair Prep

Workers install the track on a roller coaster ride before the fair opens, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, at Panhandle South Plains Fair in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Workers install the track on a roller coaster ride before the fair opens, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, at Panhandle South Plains Fair in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Football Banner

Monterey's Randy Antu (40) gets caught up in the paper banner when running onto the field before the game against Abilene Cooper, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, at PlainsCapital Park-Lowrey Field in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Monterey’s Randy Antu (40) gets caught up in the paper banner when running onto the field before the game against Abilene Cooper, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, at PlainsCapital Park-Lowrey Field in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Football Lightning

Lightning strikes in the sky during a delay in the game between New Deal and Trinity Christian, Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, in New Deal, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Lightning strikes in the sky during a delay in the game between New Deal and Trinity Christian, Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, in New Deal, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Sarah Schmidt

Sarah Schmidt outside of a building, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. (Brad Tollefson)
Sarah Schmidt outside of a building, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. (Brad Tollefson)

Marlene Stollings

Marlene Stollings the new Texas Tech Women's basketball coach Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Marlene Stollings the new Texas Tech Women’s basketball coach Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Texas Tech vs. Iowa State Football

Texas Tech's Alan Bowman (10) leaps through the air to score a touchdown during the game against Iowa State, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Texas Tech’s Alan Bowman (10) leaps through the air to score a touchdown during the game against Iowa State, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma Football

Texas Tech's Zach Austin (19) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
Texas Tech’s Zach Austin (19) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)

Texas Tech Snow

Snow falls on the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
Snow falls on the statue of Will Rogers and Soapsuds, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

Last Game in the Coliseum

The Double T in center court before an NCAA college basketball game against Abilene Christian, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]
The Double T in center court before an NCAA college basketball game against Abilene Christian, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. [Brad Tollefson/A-J Media]

You can also check out more of my favorite photos from 2018 that I shot for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. While you’re at it, go ahead and look at some of my previous Photos of the Year posts.