In response to a request, here is a blurb about the camera I use and how I go about taking shots and processing them. Oh, this got longish, so if one section bores you, feel free to move on to the next.

The Introduction
I think part of the reason I do not readily talk about my photographic techniques is because I am a bit embarrassed that they are rather simple, and my camera does much of the work. While I was doing research to buy my camera, I came across a person who said that if you are going to buy a D-SLR and simply use the automatic settings, then you might as well not bother. Well, I do not use the fully automatic mode, but I do use the Program mode, which is largely automatic. I do get do get to decide whether or not I get to use the flash, however. I generally do not, though, unless it is a party or something indoors and I am taking snapshots. Part of the reason I do not use the flash is more out of lack of knowledge, but also I like the non-flash look whenever I can get away with it. And, also, I am waiting to do my flash learning when I buy an external flash. I do change the ISO settings, however, to work with the light available. The higher the ISO setting, the lower light one can shoot in, though the pictures also get correspondingly grainer, or not as fine.
The Equipment
Regarding equipment, I did buy a D-SLR, even if I don’t often use its manual settings, though I do sometimes, primarilly for the fine quality of the sensor. The camera I have, the Canon Rebel XTI, does not have the sturdiest of bodies, but it does have a really decent sensor. Also it has a built in sensor cleaner which is nice. If you buy this camera, I would recommend not buying the kit lens and either buying a really cheap, and cheaply made, 50mm lens by Canon which evidently takes super pictures, because the actual glass lens in it is pretty decent and lets a lot of light in, allowing one to take pictures in very low light and to blur the background nicely. The lens I have is the Canon EF 28-135 with Image Stabilization, which I like a lot, though, I cannot get really wide shots at all, and this can be a bit of a bother when taking pictures of groups or large landscapes. If you want a wider angle but not as much zoom, and can spare the extra $100, this is nice, though I prefer my own, or alternately this new product, which is an image stabilized version of the normal kit lens the camera normally comes with, but this is pretty cheaply made.
I do recommend getting an image stabilized lens, though, as it really helps in avoiding blurry shots. Also, I should note, there are camera systems from other manufacturers that are equivalent, if even a bit cheaper. I like my Canon, but whatever brand one goes with, it is good to do a fair bit of research first and talk to folk. If anyone one wants to talk to me about my set up, they are welcome.
The Process
When I am taking pictures, usually I will take two or three shots of something if I am really excited about it and want to make sure to get a good shot. It is best for me, if the situation permits, to zoom in on a shot after taking it and check if the bits I want to be in focus actually are. This is important, as one can sharpen pictures a little, but poor focus cannot really be amended.
When I get ready to use the pictures. I process them using Paint.net, which one can get free on the Internet, though one has to download the .net framework from Microsoft too, which is not really a problem. There are more complex free programs online, but I like this one, largely for its relative simplicity.
Even though I have slipped down the slippery slope of what I call “amp-ing” my images more than I initially intended, to make them pop more, I generally try to recreate what I saw through the lens, or only add a little bit more pizazz. This is a rather important philosophical and aesthetic question for me which warrants its own post, and has (though I wrote this post long before I got a digital camera and the example I have included is laughable). Still, I almost always stick with only changing the brightness, contrast, color saturation, and lightness. I also do sharpen pictures on occassion. I do use other effects from time to time, but in these instances the picture has moved beyond a photo for me to some thing else, a digital painting of sorts or something like. Also, with brighteness, you must understand that your computer or laptop settings effect how it will look on other computers or printed out when you send it to Walgreens or wherever you get your prints made. One can get one’s monitor calibrated, which I need to do, or just try and err and try again.
Another, tip I recommend is to keep your original file unspoiled and save the image you have changed with a different name, that way you can go back and do some thing different with it at another time, if you like. This does eat up hard drive space, but that is getting cheaper all the time. And, speaking of hard drive space, either get a program or create a system which allows you to find your pictures easily. I have “Rolls” which are numbered on my hard drive of batches of pictures. When I think one roll has enough shots in it, I create a new folder. A rather silly nod to film cameras, but it works for me.
The Conclusion
Well, Dora, I am sure that is more than you wanted to know, but there it is, somewhat simply put actually, if you can believe that. But still I guess my process is more complicated than I thought, but still relatively quite simple compared to most photographers, I believe.