Quote:
Originally posted by BlueSky
I agree, but only to a point. It's always useful to have the technical skills, but not for everyday picture-taking. You need to know it when there are special conditions such as low light, fast action, night shots, or extreme closeups, because your camera's automatic settings don't work as well. That's when the knowledge makes the difference between getting a great shot and possibly not getting a useable shot at all.

IMO, using the automatic settings frees your mind to focus (pun intended) on interesting subjects and good composition, which are - assuming your camera is using proper exposure - the elements that make for extraordinary photos.

This is especially true with the latest cameras. Look at the thread-starter's pics. For the most part, the exposure looks good and the color is phenomenal. I have the original Digital Rebel, and last year we bought my wife a Canon PowerShot SD750. The PowerShot's picture quality (exposure and color rendition) absolutely blows my Rebel out of the water. There's no comparison. My point is that advances in camera technology have lessened the need to know the technical aspects of photography.
You're forgetting about depth of field. Ok, don't go all manual, but set it on Aperture Priority and control the depth of field, makes a big difference in the appearance of the photo, and to know what you're doing, you need to understand the basics of photography... again, your average photog doesn't worry about this stuff, but I was talking about taking your pictures to the next level.