Most photographers use all these tricks to get great shots. Even if you are using a compact, that does not means that you cannot compose and frame great shots.
The sooner that you realize that no matter what kind of camera you are using, single reflex or compact, you still need that most important ingredient . . . someone behind the camera, don't be caught up in what lens you are going to use, when the scene is happening because before you know it, its all over. Learning to see the beauty before you is also of great importance.
Although a great part of my photography is done at night, I am and will always be a nature photographer, and I try to record all the beauty that simple nature has to offer; much of this takes no more than a simple compact digital camera, granted a single reflect digital would give at lot more data, but, many of these beautiful scene need only very modest equipment, and more importantly being there at the right time. Because of the small imager in these compacts, they are very sensitive to exposure, movement, and noise; but take heart, use a tripod this will help the image to stay sharp, also it is a good idea to use the self timer when doing these special shots, thus eliminating any vibration you would add to the image when pushing the shutter. Another great function is the exposure compensation, using this will give you a chance to modify the color saturation by lightening and as in most cases darkening the scene.