I have been trying to really get the Larry Fink look with flash. I have been using the Vivitar Auto Thyristor 2800-D on camera, but so far the photographs look good but not great. They look flat. 

Do I need to get the flash off the camera and master zone focusing? 

For settings, I have been using the back of the flash for suggestions. For example for ISO 400, A1 gives you F4 6-40 feet A2 F8 3-20 feet and then it also has M giving you feet and F numbers.

Thoughts, suggestions?