Originally Posted by T-Mar

Given the relative sizes of the chainrings and cogs, that effect could almost certainly have been duplicated using a combination involving a better chain line. I'd bet that he's not even pedaling but coasting. However, your point about the photographer's perspective has merit. Most would prefer for the chain to be on the large chainring, for aesthetics. As one of my former team mates used to be fond of saying."It's not how good you are at something but how good you look doing it".