Thanks for the feedback. FWIW, here's the feedback I received from the local group. They viewed the images on a laptop by cycling through them individually, not as a side-by-side triptych as shown here.
Zero votes for A, two votes for B, 8 votes for C.
This from a group of old white males. Mostly gearheads, but with vast experience. I don't think any have formal training in art or photography, but most are well read and self-taught.
Comments on A: Too busy. Too many elements, none have central focus. Tree branch in lower right is very distracting. Tree branches can extend out of frame, but should never extend into frame.
Comments on B: Still too much competition between elements. Walkway, tire tracks, tree line, neither becomes the "subject". One fan of B argued that a strong curve element should originate in a frame corner. The other B fan said it had better "balance" between the elements. He did not like the blank snow-on-grass in C (frame left) taking up so much of the space.
Comments on C: The curved walkway is clearly the central focus. The horizontal lines in frame left lead the eye into center. The small detail top right keep the eye from wandering out of frame. The trees are less dominant and the tire tracks are gone, thus removing competition for the main element.
One comment was interesting: He said, "A is a picture of snow, B is a picture of a courtyard, C is a picture of a walkway."
I was struck by the differences in what they fixated on as important. I posted here hoping to get more diversity. But from names and profiles, still looks like an all male group. I wonder what women would say.
And for stamper - you are absolutely correct. There was a nude sunbathing on a blanket just outside frame left. If she was included there would be no argument over strongest composition. But then, the post would have been deleted by moderators.
