In regard to my composition on the Red Rabbit drive in, I chose the angles in the photo for a couple of reasons.
1. The light was great that night and I had to work fast as it was getting dark quickly. The sky was certainly part of the decision to make the photo but not what I wanted to over emphasize. I wanted the sky to say, "What a great building. I think I'll light it for you." This shot was set up very quickly with a new to me camera and my first real use of my Pentax Digital Spot meter. I was lucky to get the shots off. I had several that were out of focus and either too close or conversely too far away.
2. I didn't want any converging lines if possible. I went for splitting the frame with the horizon to keep the focus on the building as one would see it in person.
3. Part of the story on buildings like this is the fact that they are for cars to drive right up to them. The asphalt is in my opinion an integral part of that story so it deserved at least 1/3 of the image.
4. I raised my tripod up to the point that I could just barely (as in on my tip toes) see to set the exposure on the lens and see through the viewfinder. It was so high I missed focus on a few frames when I moved around trying different vantage points. I was trying to avoid shooting at a normal standing height to get more inline with the face of the right awning. I didn't quite get there, but that was my intent. I really needed a step-stool to max out the height of my tripod but I didn't have one with me.
As far as the thoughtful suggestions on maybe shooting upcoming locations with the sky in mind I will certainly do so. In fact, today I was scouting the old Dairy Queen I previously mentioned and I kept what was suggested in mind as I tried different ways to shoot the shop.
Overall, I am ok with the composition choices I made as I really want the buildings to be the subject of the photo, but I welcomed your suggestions. Thank you, coralnut!