What makes a good image?

I am constantly challenged by this question, "what makes a good image." Conventionally, a pleasing subject correctly composed, sharp,  and of interest to the viewer. Yet, a photograph can be compelling and not necessarily include one or more of these basic elements. Mood, interest, presentation and atmosphere are some attributes that can add to the flavor of an image.Here are two images taken on a early July morning at Cape Blanco looking north. As one may know, July and August along the Oregon Cost can be cloudy, cold and windy as the cooler, moist air rushes to the Oregon interior to replace the hot dry air, such was this morning. Expecting to find a calm, sunny morning at the Cape, I was instead confronted with a 40 + mile an hour wind from the North with a heavy morning cloud cover.This one is rather moody and I think rather good composition with the sweep of the beach taking ones eye to the glow of the sun shining through an opening in the clouds. Ones eye then wonders to the rocks and the sunlight on the water and then to an interest in the headlands and some of the wildflowers faintly lit in the foreground. Here is a little less moody image, but one emphasizing the rush of the wind toward the viewing with the grass bending towards us and the lines in the water emphasizing the force of the wind.Of course there is the endless discussion of how much sky to include and/or how sever the crop should be. I think this element is a combination of taste and what the intent of the image is. There are those in which I do crop down to the primary subject but in others, like these, I prefer to leave more sky then less. I think the gray of the clouds helps communicate the mood of the images.I think I have to say that I like the first image better.