I started by getting a webcam or two and trying out various projects: marker tracking (made an optical IR pass filter and tracked an IR LED with two cameras), o

I started by getting a webcam or two and trying out various projects: marker tracking (made an optical IR pass filter and tracked an IR LED with two cameras), object segmentation (e.g measure geometry of certain-colored objects). Measure the speed or count the number of cars passing by your street. Try to implement an OCR for utility meter. There are lot's of applications you can train yourself in, and I guarantee that you will learn a ton from each and every one of them.