Web-driven Learning Checklist for the Autodidact

When I want to learn/learn about something, I typically find myself referring to these, not necessarily in the same order:

1. www.Dictionary.com - Recently I found myself exploring the subject of 'friction' and I came across the word 'Tribology'. Unaware of the precise meaning, it helped to check dictionary dot com before trying to explore the subject further.
2. www.Amazon.com - Have this peculiar habit of checking books on the subject before googling it or checking it on Wikipedia.
3. Kindle ebook samples - If one has a smartphone and has downloaded the Kindle app, it proves to be an amazing resources for sampling the subject in fairly good detail without committing monetary resources.
4. www.Wikipedia.com - It's a no-brainer. You want a good view at almost work or subject under the sun, you might find this a very helpful resource almost every single time. Though, certain technical areas which we are not exposed to at all might be difficult to follow on occasions.
5. www.Google.com - Search = Google. I don't need to say much. But so often I refer to it after I've checked the above 4 resources.
6. Google Images - Typically, when I am researching a physical object, firstly I like to see its different avatars, its forms, shapes and so on. Going through the images is like enabling instant awareness and invoking associations.
7. www.Youtube.com - Video always convinces. Captures attention easily and facilitates concentration sometimes through entertaining and moving presentation of concepts.
8. Twitter handles and FB pages dedicated to the term/the subject are good reminders. But they don't yet seem to aid us in learning like the other resources do.

The Skill of Anticipating

I've been trying to click birds in flight for the last few days. I am so wont to simply switching the camera on and start clicking that it has taken a little while to remind myself to prepare before clicking.

Well the thing is I couldn't quite grasp what it means 'to prepare' either. So after switching the camera on, I would adjust the controls and get ready. I couldn't click any great pictures.

Then I realized that like I have my moods, these birds also their moods. Like I give some indications of movements, they also indicate a few things provided I am willing to read.

So I tried reading the indications, and thereby, anticipating the direction of the birds' movements. For that I had to keep the camera aside for a while and just watch. And then I adjusted the position and settings of the camera accordingly. I left ample space in the frame to capture the birds' movements in a certain direction. I took a few decent pics, by my standards.

Next, I figured that it's important to place oneself in a certain manner vis-a-vis the bird and the source of light. And I figured that to place oneself one has to move. Move quite a bit on legs. Because you see birds have moods and they swing more than we can imagine. They don't pose. They simply move. Faster than the trigger. And to get a great shot you got to have legs to help you. Or the sense to place yourself precisely at the point where you know the bird will perch and offer a super pose. To sense the point, you would need your legs to develop that sense.