grape leaves Carter's Mt. VA....blueridge in the background
that doesnt have to be the case. you can get a bracket to move the flash away from the camera, you can bounce the flash and use a bounce card. you can also get a justin clip w. a sync cord so you position the flash anywhere you want as long as you can clip it. a tree branch, a chair, a post, something.Coutts - the only thing bad about on camera flash, is that its direct on. If you could make some sort of ring flash, that'd be better than the onboard flash.
I started like that too...got a sony cyber shot last year..and then got a film SLR a month or so ago...then I almost settled for another point and shoot this christmas....Im glad I didn'tlol i think i'm doing alright now, day 4 of my own dslr, before this i had only shot with my friends 20d when i could borrow it. but i've technically been in photography for a year now (got my first point and shoot last christmas lol).