There are a few things that differentiate me from the typical photographer:

1. I'm left-brained. Not very creative. I can't "create" things. I'm hopeless with a blank canvas. Photography enables people like me to capture what is already out there in unique ways, giving non-creative people a way to be creative. It's cheating, but it works. I would guess that photography appeals most to "analytical creatives." While they can't come up with something from nothing, they can carefully choose their subjects and find unique perspectives on things that are already there.
2. For me, photography is not about the pretty picture. It's about finding something unique and personal with a given subject. This separates me from most commercial photographers, who generally shoot pretty things that sell that are generally devoid of meaning. Subjective photography is good photography.
3. I'm not a collector of images. I try to only take pictures that tell a story, whether the story is about me or someone/something else. Leave image collection to stock photo agencies. If you want to be a photographer, make it personal.

So you want to take good photos? Here's what you need:

1. An eye for what looks good. Some people have it naturally, some people develop it on their own. It's difficult to teach. When you look at a good picture, you should be able to figure out what decisions the photographer made to make the image work. If it doesn't look like you made any conscious decisions, the picture probably won't work.
   • Observe the common rules for composition. Don't put anything along the edge of the frame or right in the middle. Break the rules only when you have a good reason for doing so.
   • Examine depth-of-field. Is it shallow or deep? Do you want it to be shallow or deep? What can you do to change it?
   • Examine color. Is it vibrant or dull? Do you want it to be vibrant or dull? What can you do to change it?
   • For portraits, always focus on the eyes. In conversation, people always look at one another in the eyes. It's the same when you're looking at a face in a photograph. If they eyes are out of focus, we can't make a "connection" with the subject.
2. Intelligence to choose your subjects. If you can't remember what a photo is or why it was taken, there probably wasn't any point in taking it in the first place.
   • Figure out what you're taking a picture of. Don't include extraneous information which might draw attention away from your subject or confuse your message. Why are you taking it? Are you trying to say something particular about your subject?
   • For travel pictures, figure out what really makes the place unique. Make it personal. Don't just duplicate the pictures that have already been taken a thousand times. You will not be able to do better than the guy who is taking pictures from a helicopter at sunset.
   • If you're shooting black and white, make sure your subject is interesting enough and simple enough for black and white. In a lot of ways, it's harder to take a good black and white picture than a color one because the lack of color forces the viewer to concentrate more on tonality and composition, aspects of photography which take a bit of practice.
3. The technical ability to use a camera. Cameras generally aren't complicated, but some people just don't have the knack for gadgets. Unfortunately, it takes a certain amount of geekiness to operate a camera properly.
   • Examine your film or ISO settings on your digital camera. Realize that ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and filters all work together to control exposure. Changing one of those components usually has predictable effects, but you must know which of those effects will work for your picture.
4. The technical ability to use a computer. Unfortunately, almost every photo will need some degree of post-processing on the computer. While it's fun to click buttons, don't overdo it. Post-processing rarely makes a photo.
5. Previsualization. After you take pictures for a while, you'll get to the point where you know exactly what the finished product is going to look like before even take it. An important skill and a definite time saver.

Anne Geddes sums up the whole process quite elegantly:

Never give up. Be an individual and find your own style. Look at the great photographers in the world today and you'll see maybe a dozen or so whose work is instantly recognizable...you can say, yes, that's Annie Leibovitz, Arnold Newman, Herb Ritts, or Robert Mapplethorpe. In a word, "signature." I believe that no one can ever give you an eye for photography. There are people who can "see" and it's a gift. By observation and study, you can learn the technique, but you must reach inside yourself to find the emotion, the essential element for a photograph to make a difference.