post layout and format

Hello – this may be just a general wordpress question but i have an issue with my blog posts.

I want my blog posts to look exactly like the page in the demo:

http://kriesi.at/themes/enfold/2012/12/12/lorem-ipsum-dolor-sit-amet-consectetuer-adipiscing-elit-aenean-commodo-ligula-eget-dolor-aenean-massa/

but when i publish a standard post i get a layout like this one:

http://i.imgur.com/GbdurOM.jpg

http://jessebarto.com/test-post/

i dont get the long preview picture and i get a strange grey box with a tag or a camera icon. i would like to get rid of that icon and have the blog post wider like the demo post.

also, do i need to add a picture to the “featured image” for the picture to display on the blog page?

im using the single author big preview layout.