The calendar has turned to Spring but the weather here in central New York is still fluctuating between it and Winter.  I photographed my first outdoor field lacrosse game of the season over the weekend.  The weather started out windy and cold with an overcast sky.  As the game entered the fourth quarter, snow started to lightly fall.

Cazenovia Lakers Henry Mann (2) wins the face-off to start the fourth quarter against Baldwinsville Bees Luke McCaffrey (20) on Saturday, April 5, 2015 at Cazenovia, New York.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/2000s, f/5.3, ISO 800, EV +0.7, 310mm focal length, cropped.

I was using the Nikon D700 camera with the original 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF VR Zoom lens on a monopod in Shutter Priority mode.  Lacrosse is a fast sport so I set my shutter at 1/2000th of a second and let the camera choose the aperture and ISO.  Added a bit of Exposure compensation with snow banks surrounding the turf field.

As the game progressed so did the snow.  It added a surreal look to the photos I was taking.

Baldwinsville Bees Mitch Rein (1) with the ball against Cazenovia Lakers PJ Brown (10) as the snow falls on Saturday, April 5, 2015 at Cazenovia, New York.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/200s, f/5.3, ISO 1400, EV +0.7, 240mm focal length, cropped.

Isolation photos really came out great with the lovely bokeh of the lens and the falling snow being, if you will forgive me, frozen around the players.

Baldwinsville Bees Eric Candee (10) looking to make a pass against the Cazenovia Lakers in a Spring snow shower on Saturday, April 5, 2015 at Cazenovia, New York.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/2000s, f/5.3, ISO 1400, EV +0.7, 260mm focal length, cropped.

As the clock was running down on the game, the snow came down even harder.

Cazenovia Lakers Henry Mann (2) lining up a shot at Baldwinsville Bees goalie Daniel Thomas (15) during a Spring snow shower on Saturday, April 5, 2015 at Cazenovia, New York. Cazenovia won 13-5.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/2000s, f/5.3, ISO 2000, EV +0.7, 310mm focal length, cropped.

The next game scheduled for this week has wind, cool temperatures and rain forecasted. Good thing the young and talented athletes I see through the view finder give me something to concentrate on.