2
Assuming you dont want News as your startup module you could include a custom block at the top centre-center with your own HTML in it, and have an intro there with anything you wish, including graphics.
Underneath that the choice is your's recent news, recent topics from forum. top news etc. Place them centre centre, or right or left.
A module called "Spotlight" (do a search) exists, which you can use to feature news articles etc. The new "Topics" module for News is very good, allows you to single out categories, topics etc.
Wfsections is a great content manager, which comes with a variety of blocks for articles.
Xcgallery (integrated from coppermine) has the ability to show pictures from gallery, with almost unlimited choices for picture presentation through blocks, including actual pictures, "static" shows latest pictures in a block, you choose how many, and/or "Scrolling" block shows random pics.
If you wish have a look at the site I am building (for ages, might get time to finish it someday) at
http://macambridge.com and click on Mac Gallery to see what I mean.
Xoops unlimited blocks power and simplicity is excellent, I dont think any CMS can compare that I know I about. I could not go back to any other CMS after being spoilt by Xoops..:)