The more I read and view

The rules of composition, thirds, spiral, lines, triangles and such make sense.

But does a photo look good? I don't think I new the "rules" but things often looked right, felt right.

Many of my photos from 2008 thru now didn't follow the composition guides but the elements, the Why, that MattK call's it, are there. 

I knew why I had my wife and dog say on the sunset bench. Yes I didn't follow the "rules" when I took the photo. I liked it. A little, jpg, image post processing and crop made a stronger image.

It just looked right.

I never thought about triangles by I new "get low" and lay in the sand would work.

Is there to much sky? I'll give you that but the lens and sensor aspect ratio are limiting issues if you plan to print it.

That won't make a good photo, I was told. You decide

I like the color, background silhouette. I took the photo.

Only the judges worry about "rules" and you need to if you are submitting for a competition. But I don't plan to enter a photo compotation. Sports activities are compotation's you or your team wins. Photo competition are judgments the "goal line"  is adjusted by the bias of the judge(s). As Joe Edelman says compotation's suck.