The same, but different

The two photos below are similiar: both are taken in the snow and both contain an umbrella. However, one works for me and one doesn't.

At first glance, without comparing the quality, which composition works for you?

    When I first came across the one on the left, the haziness of the trees caught my attention. I liked the serene tranquility of the snow on the ground, and how the haziness gave you the sensation of a quiet, cold winter's day where you could allllmost hear the snow-weighted branches crackling to the ground. But my focus soon went to the umbrella. It seemed so out of place.... and so obviously staged. I'm sure the photographer was looking for the effect that the vivid colors created against the black, white, and grey scene of the snow, but the umbrella ruined the shot for me. I can think of other things that would've left a different impression: snow boots...? a concrete statue?... nothing?

   Now to the photograph on the right... It's not fair to compare the quality with the first photo because this was taken with a cell phone at Mizzou while my son was in motion and carrying a 50 lb. backpack through the snow. However, with that aside, this photo works better for me. I like the single, softer shade of the umbrella. The pinkness blends better with the snow tones.... vs. the starkness of the bright rainbow umbrella on the left. At first I wasn't sure if I liked all of the footsteps; I wondered if the scene would seem "less busy" without so many. But after looking at it, I like how the footsteps are the focus of the photo, with the students and the pink umbrella as the subject. The photo creates curiousity because there are only three students walking, but hundreds of footsteps. How many students must've walked down this sidewalk before the falling snow covered their tracks? Obviously, if the one on the right could've been staged, there would've been things that I would change... like the position of the umbrella?... to use only a single person with the umbrella? ...softer focus? But it still works better for me.