Your right these are not two different versions... And no, the photos were not taken at different times. The second photo is a Photoshopped hack of the first document. Contrast enhanced and image darken, background cut away and made black, and a sloppy Torn Edges filter job.
Whoever done it, was not very good. ;^)
I think I agree. It would be very unlikely that photographs on two separate occasions would be taken at eaxctly EXACTLY the same angle, with exactly the same lighting, resulting in exaclty the same shadow formations.
The edges are not mere pixellations, but are intentional editing as you suggest. I don’t know what they were after, but I’d suggest that the second version be tossed. This image has been manipulated as you suggest.