The ratty old digital camera is enough for now.
It isn’t the camera that takes good photographs, it’s the brain behind the eye behind the camera that does.
Shoot lots and lots. Really SEE what you have done.
Look at the work of others and really look deeply into it to see why they are good – or otherwise.
That is how you can get better.
Further, register on a decent photo-sharing site and get good feedback from those who have been doing it for a while.
I recommend

I use Photofiltre as an edit programme almost exclusively. There is a FREE download at.

Forget a replacement camera for the moment and only go for an upgrade when the current borrowed camera can’t do what you want. You will know when that is and then it’s down to how much cash you can get together.

Until I/we can see something that you have done so far, no other comment.

gimp is free and you can do some amazing things with it and the photos will look like professional after some practice. i too just started and after one night of toying around with the gimp program, i was able to do some things with my wedding photos that not even our photographer knew how to do (make photos in part black & white, part in color). there are tons of tutorials online also. just search them on yahoo.

Take a basic photography class.
Learn about exposures and what different lens’ do.
If you learn to take good shots you keep your editing to a minimum.

Try gimp.com for a free manipulation programme.

Cameras are meer tools, knowledge and skill are more important. Get hold of any camera that you can use manually to start with. A DSLR for digi or a SLR for film.

To get better learn about the craft heres some links:

People do learn best with structured learning like schools and teachers.

For software, I like Roxio Photosuite. It isn’t incredibly advanced, but I have been able to do a decent amount with it.

I have a Sony Cybershot camera. The price is reasonable and the picture quality is great for the price. Not a $3000 camera, but that is a whole new level.

What to do to get better? Read the manual on the different settings and play around with it. Take pictures with different settings and play around with it to see what works in different conditions. The best way to learn is practice.

take some fine art & photography classes. they will help with composition, color and basic design elements for your eye and photography.

Despite what you may read in here, Photoshop and the type of camera you use are not very important in learning to make great images.

Keep using your dad’s camera and sign up for a class.

HTH
V