Skewed tilt on shoe mount flashes

If this is obvious sorry, but...

I have noticed folks using the shoe-mount flashes with a skewed tilt.
Usually, when you point the head up, it is for bounce flash, or when
you just need a little catch light only, it is nice to angle it up with
a business card to throw just a wee bit of light....

But I see people with the flash up at an angle (say 45 or 60 degrees),
but with the flash head turned slightly (usually to the left) - as if
you'd want something bounced partially off a ceiling and partially off
a side wall......but they seem to use the flash in this position even
outdoors. What's up with that?

Now that I think about it, I see people using flash with a diffuser
with the flash head pointed backwards too. What's up there?

andyj1011 DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:
> If this is obvious sorry, but...
>
> I have noticed folks using the shoe-mount flashes with a skewed tilt.
> Usually, when you point the head up, it is for bounce flash, or when
> you just need a little catch light only, it is nice to angle it up with
> a business card to throw just a wee bit of light....
>
> But I see people with the flash up at an angle (say 45 or 60 degrees),
> but with the flash head turned slightly (usually to the left) - as if
> you'd want something bounced partially off a ceiling and partially off
> a side wall......but they seem to use the flash in this position even
> outdoors. What's up with that?
>
> Now that I think about it, I see people using flash with a diffuser
> with the flash head pointed backwards too. What's up there?

You know a lot of strange people.

When you point it straight up and tape on a "business card" it isn't to
provide lighting. It is so you see the reflection of the flash in the
person's eye. It adds a lot to the picture.

Pointing up outside is unusual. My guess is that they have a really
big flash and they are trying to bounce it off the moon (or low cloud
cover).

Backwards? If inside they might be trying to bounce off a wall behind
them for diffusion. Also for close-ups and macro, it is sometimes
necessary because of the distance from the flash to the lense -- so you
bounce off the ceiling (which requires you to bounce it behind you).

Otherwise, I think the photographer may have hit the punch bowl one too
many times.

(Unless it's a wedding photography and he/she is trying to screw with
the people crowding in behind him/her)