Those are gorgeous.  I wish I knew how to do that.  I'm stuck on automatic.  I need a really good /easy book that will tell me how to do pictures like that. 

I don't get the whole "Ooh it's a sunset, so I need to switch to this apeture, etc." 
Sometimes I shoot on auto, mainly for the reason the shot is not still (I.E. Kid, animal, ocean wave, etc).
I always feel guilty and less-than-professional. But it gets the images that I would otherwise lose if I had to stop and fiddle around with settings.