Can I take beautiful photographs with amazing colours and quality?

I have a nikon d3100 with a 50mm 1.8 lens and a 18-55mm 3.5-5.6f lens.

Can I take great pictures with that or do I need super expensive $3000 dollar cameras and lenses? :/

The Nikon D3100 will produce excellent images. You do not need a more expensive camera. Paying more money will buy you more features and larger images (more megapixels) but will not give you better looking images. I use the D3100 myself and the same kit lens. Check out my photos at http://petersonlive.com

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You don't need that expensive equipment. It's not the camera that makes or breaks the photo, it's the photographer. You have a good camera and good lenses to start off with, so it's time to utilize them.

Taking a photography course or reading a book about photography would be a great start, but if you don't have time for those now, read articles from the internet. There are plenty of them. Here are two that will give you some good info on the exposure triangle and composition:

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/...posure.htm

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-composition-tips

Your D3100 is capable of amazing photos. It's all up to the skill and creative vision of the photographer. Here's some 6 million samples D3100 images for you to look over. Use the drop-down Now Showing menu for common photo types, or use the Search box for subjects of interest to you.

For years, professional photographers filled websites and magazine pages with great images from Nikon D1, D2, D100, D200, D70, & D80 cameras. I used a D50, D70, & D200 on many professional assignments. Your D3100 is capable of outshooting all of these camera bodies, if you know how.

The key to getting quality photos is quality light. If there isn't enough light, you can't shoot a good image.

Most every camera takes good shots outdoors during the day. Indoors or at night, you may need to either add light by using built-in popup flash or a flash head, or use a tripod to keep the camera steady while you take a long exposure.

Ah cheap versus Expensive. Yes the Expensive Lenses and tools are you know better able and slightly better. YET the lenses you have are pretty decent the camera you have is nice it has a nice sensor. So you got decent glass and a good sensor.

That leaves one thing that will define quality, YOU!

YOU as photographer YOU as the person that knows the right settings for the situation at hand YOU that knows the weak spot of the lenses [wide open is usually soft] YOU as photographer that knows to take the best of the situation at present and make the picture from the right spot, the right angle with the right setting at the right moment.

Lets say both of us are in the zoo, there's an animal show and both of us desire to take pictures. Now I take the "Oh I got a new camera and lens" position and you have your old trusty camera. Slightly older yes but still good!

Right sea lions in a show.time to make pictures. I as fumbling new owner am well fumbling trying to find the right buttons and functions missing half the show. You as "good old trusty camera" know your camera so you get the shots.

The point is yes I as new fumbly owner have a newer "better" camera but. You know your camera you know your lens. You know what you can and what you can't. YOU get better pictures because of EXPERIENCE.

I have a mid range lens that is not super but pretty darn great for its price. And I know its strengths and weaknesses, would a first brand, top grade lens be better? Yes I guess. But without experience I would be fumbling with that like a fool. It is the experience that allows you to get the best out of your camera. Be that a DSLR or a Compact. Simple as that.

Know your camera, know your lenses, know what you can and what you can't. Learn the tricks and keep shooting.