It's kinda hard to verbalize.. #2 looks artificial and overprocessed. #1 looks normal. I've seen the effect of shadow/highlight many times myself and I grew to dislike it alot. Maybe I simply developed a case of over-sensitivity in this area...
Two pics the first shot on the 2nd of a spring chick, not very well presented but tthe chicks were only 2 days old and were not used to performing for the camera The second I shot this morning. He would not display, but he is in all his spring finery Stan