Afternoon-turning-into-evening is a great time for this, as you do get ample light, but it’s steadily getting lower, which improves the quality of the light as the day continues.
Thus, to get these types of photos, you need light.  Afternoon-turning-into-evening is a great time for this, as you do get ample light, but it’s steadily getting lower, which improves the quality of the light as the day continues.