The Importance of a Baseball Cap:

In addition to hiding the fact that your hair is a mess in the early morning, a baseball cap (or other hat) can serve several practical purposes.

1) The bill of the cap acts as a sun visor and you will see a little clearer through the sun's glare.

2) I often use the cap to shade the front of the lens. This is like adding an extension to your lens shade and it can be very helpful in reducing lens flare.

3) If it begins to rain, you can use the cap as a raincoat and quickly cover the camera and lens. This will provide some fast, temporary protection while you store your gear away.

4) The bill of the cap also provides some protection from the sun while you are in the field.

5) You can use the hat as a marker if you find something good and want to return to photograph it later. I often place my gear down and scout about in a field for insects sleeping on branches or leaves. If I find something, I mark the spot by placing my cap in an easy to see location and go back to get my gear.