Thanks @lenspirationLydia for your perspective!
Yes, I have been noticing that the angle of light is lower this time of year. And also how the sun is setting much early makes the “midday light” not last as long.
Light bleeding is something I haven’t paid attention to before, but now I see how much of a difference it can make.
When you’re talking about light shade, are you referring to the edge of shade where people can still see the sky above them? I tend to have the problem of putting people to deeply into shade and then their face will be to shadowed. (For example in the middle of the woods).