The biggest leap for me was being able to see the image in the camera as simply an image.
I have to sort of detach myself from the surroundings so I can evaluate and compose the image. When the photo is on the wall or on the computer screen a viewer won't have the benefit of being immersed in the original environment. At best, I'll try to make the image relate to how I felt taking it, remembering that in the end, it's just a picture without the sunlight, the wind, the whatever that was around when I took it.
A dark red filter with B&W film helps sometimes too - can make dramatic clouds and black skies though sometimes I get annoyed with the effect. If you use digital or scan color film, play with the channels in PS to simulate various filters for the same or even stronger look.
A super wide angle (< 24mm on a tradtional 35mm camera) can be really neat once you get the hang of including foreground elements into the photo. I love my 20 mm Nikon lens. Really dramatic images though the look can be sort of a cliche some times.
The galleries at
www.photo.net alternately inspire and humble me. There are some really great portfolios there.
Use a tripod whenever you can and wait for good light. We've gone to Death Valley twice a year since 2001, sometimes returning for multiple tries at a particular image. Still have to go back this spring, maybe El Nino will bring a good bloom in early March.
Oh yeah, just take lots of photos and critically evaluate each one afterwards. Edit heavily - never show people your mediocre or bad ones, only the good 5-10%.
Good luck,
mike
'78SC