This particular photo was taken using manual settings. The auto one was good too but I wasn't completely satisfied with the result. 🙂
It is good you want to improve your skills. Photography is a wonderful hobby and a great mean to capture the surrounding beauty.
An advice? Hmmm... I'm an amateur myself so not in a good position to give advice. But, one thing I can say though: always pay attention to what happens around you and try to find subjects that would make a good story. A simple flower can send a deep message if properly framed.
And another thing: expensive gear does not make a good photo, the photographer does. 😉