Hello Mikeal, and welcome to the Nikonites Community. The D40 is a good camera and I'm sure you will enjoy shooting with it. The D40 came with the 18-55mm lens. Is that the one you are using? Do you have any others? Thats a good shot of the vase and glass blower in your Gallery. Most shots like this have a problem with the flames being over exposed and blowing out the details of the rest of the shot. You hit it right on.
Happy shooting,
Joseph