Diagonal, or curve?

[SmartWombat]

From where I was, there wasn't much alternative for composition.
So which works, or neither, and why?

[Greg McCary]

#1, but it looks like it is leaning right. Why, It seems to have more depth, to me any way.

[SmartWombat]

Interesting, I already rotated it left.
I took an average by eye of all the various stances of the girls and the angles of lean of the poles, and the twist and so apparent tilt of the boards, and managed to find some people who were even standing up straight !
With the curve of the track, and the various angles of the starting grid marks, I found it hard to come to a "real" vertical or horizontal.
Why don't you have a try?

Oh and WHY is the curve preferred and not the diagonal?

[Greg McCary]

I think the second one is something most photogs would come up with. The first one is different. It has a little more depth and seems to have more to keep me looking and the people carrying the flags are not cut off. Maybe it is the curve to the track? The guy standing lower left looks like he is standing on a slope. I guess at first glance one doesn't realize the slope on the track.

[Greg McCary]

[SmartWombat]

Thanks, Greg

[Frog]

The first one works better for me. That group carrying the blue banner at top being chopped off in the second kills it for me.
Too bad you couldn't get down there with all those other photogs.

[MB1]

The heck with your question, do you notice how big a lens the fellow in the bottom of the second image is toting?!?

BTW I prefer the second image, I think it has striking visual lines and the ladies are closer and clearer. However all those photogs really do hurt the flow of the line of women.