Gutter Snapping:
A term (penned in 2006 by Adam H Gough) which describes a style of documentary photography that finds its subjects and settings on the wilder, weirder and sometimes darker side of life; and always after-dark. Gutter Snapping seeks to act as a mirror that honestly portrays an immediate scene without layering it with a personal bias. A 'gutter snapped' scene consists of a single human moment, not set-up or rehearsed, which has occurred spontaneously. Although the subjects are usually unknown to the photographer, Gutter Snapping is NEVER candid; the camera makes for a good instigator and catalyst in developing a situation.
Gutter Snapping, by its very nature, often involves the consumption of intoxicating substances, by either the photographer or their subject; but very often both will be inebriated to some degree. This increases the chances of more spontaneous instances and random captures.
The art of Gutter Snapping is found in the photographer's ability to be able to operate their equipment under the circumstances (ie. the influence) and to avoid being assaulted by their subjects. In the heart of a true Gutter Snapper is a burning desire to capture human wildlife in their totally disturbed habitat during their hours of high recreation and low desperation- the drunks, the punks, the street crawlers, the bar brawlers, the junkies, the poets, the glam queens, the James Deans, the scumbags, the faghags, the users, the abusers, the losers, the high rollers, the low bowlers, the winners, the sinners, the eccentrics, the expendables, the crazy fucks, the-down-on-their-lucks...you get the point. Below is an ever expanding gallery displaying examples of Gutter Snaps taken by AHG:
