A few points for discussion.
First I do not see or understand your flow:
The in focus to out of focus bits of the pic run in opposite directions in each pic.
They don't, as from left to right they both show
in focus-out of focus-in focus . I was discussing this in another thread, we as photographers tend to see images in terms of the logic and metrics that we understand We then tend to judge images in relation to that logic. In this case it's front focus to back focus and is more a logic that you attach to the image, not one the viewer really sees.
When discussing composition also the images have only been assessed through the metrics that are understood by photographers, and not through the eyes of the viewer. Two very important considerations have been largely missed, namely colour and the relative nature of vision.
With the relative nature of vision you have presented them both to us together, to compare against each other at the same time:
1) Which is not how they were presented on Instagram. The first image,
was presented first, at a time when there were more viewers on-line. At the time of presentation it was fresher, newer. The second is more of the same at a later time when fewer viewers were on-line.
2) We see in relative values, not absolute. When you present the two images together, at the same time, our impression of what we see is largely governed by the differences between the two and less so by the absolute values of each. For instance many are probably drawn by the warmer colour balance of the second image
when viewed together. It is warmer than the first and the first
looks cooler in comparison. But it only looks cooler when directly compared to the first. Which is not how you presented them. When seen in isolation the first has quite a warm balance which you will see when compared to a slightly cooler version because you notice the differences:
The original is on the bottom and seen like this it has a slightly warm and better colour balance than the other image you posted later.
Viewed in isolation the first has better balance in composition and colour, it is more complete as an image with better tones and textures. It was also a fresher idea when it was posted to a larger audience.
Just some thoughts.
