Take a Great Photo

There are many things that go into making a beautiful picture. All you need to do is take a little time to get just the right shot.

Get a camera. Digital cameras work best because you can see the shot immediately after taking it. That way you know what you did right or wrong and can retake the picture if you need to.
Have an objective or main focus, be it a flower, person, building etc. It is the thing that is most important in the picture. The photographer (you) plays up this object in order to show the beauty and meaning of it. Pay attention to lighting; this helps to project the mood of a photo. If you are looking for a "happy" photo, then you would most likely want the photo to be bright, and the opposite if you wanted a more "depressing" photo.
Pick an angle that shows maximum color and minimum shadow. To make things appear longer or taller, a low angle can help. If you want a bold photo, it is best to be even with the object. You may also want to make the object look smaller or make it look like you're hovering over; to get the effect you should put the camera above the object.
Try capturing a moment with your picture. In other words, make it obvious that your picture has a story behind it.
Focus the main object of your photo.
Have fun! If taking pictures is not your thing and you're not really interested in it, then it will show. Whether it's a hobby or career, have fun with it and take photos of what you enjoy.

Capture an image with a sharp foreground and the rest will follow.
Try filling the frame. This makes for a nicer composition.
Don’t take boring photos.
Remove the clutter before shooting an object.
Think BEFORE you press the shutter.
Don't take photographs of subjects, take photographs of the light.
Light is key. Photography is literally in Latin "painting with light".
The best time to take a photo is in the evening or early morning.
Midday light is the worst for photography.
Try using some editing programs (Photoshop, GIMP, etc.) to adjust the contrast an brightness of your photo.
When using bright lighting, make sure that the color is not washed out.
When using dark lighting, be sure that you can see the object.
* Don't drop your camera in any kind of liquid; it will most likely damage the camera and the pictures.