Black and Whiteby
Nick96Comment by Yo_Spiff: Per your request a couple of tips:
-I think your A520 has some manual controls, including aperture priority. For a shot like this in low light use a low ISO on a tripod, to allow for a slow shutter speed without camera shake.
-Some basic image adjustments will help as well. I would suggest the most basic as being levels, curves, saturation and sharpening. Levels is the first and most important, IMO.
-On the compression thing. Most photo editors will have the compression settings in the file save dialog somewhere. If you need a good and free photo editor, with many of the features of the big names, I like to recommend
paint.net
-The shot itself just does not have much to it. I would describe it as deadpan. Maybe a tilt, or something colorful reflected in the mirror?
Oh, and congrats on your first ribbon, even if it's the brown.
I've got one as well.Message edited by author 2008-11-12 09:33:45. 
Photographer found comment helpful.