Thanks Marko.... good lesson learned... stay AWAY from bright windows if you can....

"In the second shot with the dog where you used the flash, even though you dislike the flash - that shot is more balanced (precisely because u used flash) in terms of overall tone. The window is less distracting here because it isn't as overexposed as in the other shots. The eye had a natural tendency to go to the brightest elements in the scene. The main lesson in all of this should be BEWARE that very bright elements in a scene will throw off the camera's exposure that the camera can handle MUCH LESS of a tonal range than your eyes. In terms of that shot though, besides the flash - that shot needs work. IMO the is no real focal point here or maybe it's the boy. It's basically a shot of people watching T.V. with a dog whose head you cut off."

lol... I submitted this picture as a tonal representation of what i don't like about flash in this room (especially the walls).... I understand the picture itself is essentially junk...

I'll be back with lots more questions....