is one I just took on a training walk with a student, a pro photographer. I was showing flash effects:
Blue, Green, Yellow and Red in Oakville
Underexposing the background gave me drama and saturated colours; flash gave me bright, poppy foreground. This picture is all about the colours.
So, Michael having your flash pointed straight out is acceptable outdoors where you have nothing to bounce off of (a back wall, etc) but not while indoors. I am assuming that is what you did here?
Yes. Outdoors you are mixing light. A direct light is OK if it is mixed with another light (ambient). So outdoors, you can usually aim straight ahead.