Snapper's Centre Of Photography atop a hill (5)

I believe the answer is:

gator

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'snapper's' is the definition.
(short for alligator, an animal which 'snaps')

'centre of photography atop a hill' is the wordplay.
'centre of' says to take the centre.
'atop' becomes 'a' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'a hill' becomes 'tor' (tor is a kind of hill).
The middle of 'photography' is 'g'.
'g'+'a'+'tor'='GATOR'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for gator that I've seen before include "dangerous reptile shortly" , "Informal American term for semi-aquatic reptile" , "Short reptile" , "Crocodilian (informal)" , "one snaps in America" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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