The amateur or novice web designer will often have the "flashy graphic" mindset.
I say this because I know this to be true, and I know this to be true because I was exactly that way along with many others I know.
I would like to really challenge beginner, and maybe even more advanced web designers with the heavy use of graphics in website designs.
Initially, we may use graphics because:

• They look cool.
  
• They make the page flashy.
  
• They make the page have movement.
  
• They give the page "life".
  
• They are just totally cool, man!!

It is always a good idea to consider the actual point in using graphics in our website designs.
Why am I using this graphic?What purpose does this graphic serve?How does this graphic serve the visitor?Where is an appropriate place for this or that graphic?Those are some questions we really need to be asking ourselves when we design our website.
While graphics do all the things above they sometimes guarantee that the page will:

• Load longer.
  
• Be more busy.
  
• Load longer.
  
• Be an eye-popping experience.
  
• Did I say, "Load longer"?

So back to our questions...
We need to ask ourselves those questions.
This day and age people on the internet are seeking out content and information.
People are seeking out particular thoughts, opinions, and messages.
People want content!That means people do not want to be distracted by long page loads, nonsense graphics, and/or distracting graphics.
I would say that graphics play two roles.

• They can be part of a message.
  OR

• They can be part of an interface.
  

If your graphics do not fit in with the message of the content on your site and/or they are not doing any job at enhancing the users interface, then it's a good idea not to use the graphic.
And when I say "interface", I'm also throwing the ease of the navigation of the site into that.
Cool colors and flashy graphics can be, well, cool, but if they are not serving the purpose or idea of your site then they should not be used.
A computer mouse these days generally has a browser back button on it.
Have you ever visited a website that does not engage you and you quickly press the back button?It's easy to do.
I do it all the time.
Create a site that engages your visitors.
If the flashy graphics do not engage your visitors, then do not use them.
Content is what it comes right down to.
People are not generally looking for "cool" unless "cool" is the actual message of the site.
Consider graphics that enhance the message of your site and the interface of your site.
It's easy to smack a bunch of graphics in a page, but why are you using the graphic?What purpose does it serve?Does the graphic even serve the visitor?Sometimes less is more.
As the upcoming designer, you'll have to decide though.