Keep hanging out at the Forum, Kid. You'll get better in no time. Great thing about the digital cameras is you can experiment and get the results right away. In a scene like this, first try the automatic mode. I'm not sure if the Dimage does this, but probably does: note the f-stop and shutter speed it used. [If the dimage doesn't show this, there are ways around it.] Look at the result. If the highlights are blown out like this, switch to full manual mode and enter the same f-stop and shutter speed values that the camera used in Auto mode. Then either increase the shutter speed by one or two levels, or increase the f-stop (bigger number). And try again. Repeat until it looks good. An easier way if the camera has a "compensation" button. Leave it in Auto. Take a picture and check the result. If the highlights are blown out, Reduce compensation (-). Repeat until it looks OK. Remember to turn compensation off (back to normal) when you are done. The thing to remember is faster shutter, or bigger f-number, lets in less light.