I don't know Russ... I'm with Frank. Can you humor us for a minute and recut number 8 (the standout here for me as well) with the bar horizontal, which will take some of the Titanic is lilting tilt out of the red chairs too?
I know, I know, it's agains the vertically plumb horizon line rules... but if you have time, show us? It would be interesting to compare the two and get the groups opinions on which cuts better.
Also, if you cropped #8 in post, do you have enough spare pixels left over to open up a version with the lower bar showing also? You nailed the focus on the face so exactlingly well, and you are shooting so shallow, that I don't think a larger BG will destract from the intensity you've already captured with your subject... and I'm just curious what it would look like if we see both bars. It may not have the power of your current crop, but it would instructive to confirm that, if the pixels are available to see.
But even without both bars, I'm still very curious to see the same shot with the bar horizoned, compared to the vertical reference you used. (Not that I haven't battled this before with my own pics, but it would be interesting to see in your particular #8. my own pics suffer from too many faults to make such an isolated comparison)
I like the bar straightened. My larger crop idea sucked, I'll admit, but I definitely prefer the bar setting the horizon line. Those stairway stansions are practically invisible, your focus is so strong on the athlete's eyes. I noticed the bar is fuzzed... oh yeah! Skillz. Ya got mad skillz, Russ.
I get the heavy lens elements moved closer to where I need them by pre-focusing on that bar, so there is less glass movement when the moment comes... but the trick then is getting the focus OFF the bar and on that face, which you nailed.
So show it off. Don't distract us (well, me anyways) with a crooked bar. Make it straight. And just one bar will do! I gotta always put my foot it in it somewhere!
