I don't think you really have a 'signature' style yet - so much variety and interesting ideas in all your posts - but this is close. Complex composition, reflections, many layers - but this one just doesn't have the 'wow' factor for me. It's a shot where I'd like to see the other frames either side on the contact sheet - whoops, there I go showing my age...but seriously, it's not quite a 'decisive moment'. Three heads, three wrought-iron swirls - but they don't quite come together in harmony.

fraxinus: I agree. I think this one has some merit as a documentary record (and will probably appeal to those of us who were there), but you're right, it's not a decisive moment. That said, I'm not sure that there would have been one had I stood there all evening - the setting was probably too complex - but I do take your point.

facinating and smart. This is my first visit and I know I am going to be one of your constant visitors.

I understand why Sam felt he should close his comments section. But I guess he could've just ignored them for a while. After all, the problem really started when people rushed to Sam's support and ignited the bitter discussion.

Jafar: thanks. And I take your point about the problems starting at ddoi when other people joined in, and as one of those who rushed to his defence I feel partly responsible. But I'd like to consider myself one of Sam's friends - albeit a rather distant, disembodied one - and didn't feel able to simply stand by and witness such petty-minded spite.

Blogs are funny things. In many ways they're treated as a public space, but in essence they're no such thing. I tend to think of chromasia (and most other blogs) as more akin to an open-house than, say, a coffee bar or other publicly available space. It's my house, or Sam's house, or your house, and we have expectations as to how our visitors will behave. And the behaviour on Sam's blog today broke what, IMO, are perfectly reasonable rules regarding how we behave to our fellow human beings.

So you may well be right, if I hadn't chimed in things might not have degenerated quite so thoroughly, but I didn't want to wake up tomorrow thinking I should have said something to counter those comments, but didn't for fear of rocking the boat.

Dave,

Great concept for this image. I try to do those quite often at weddings when I have the opportunity. The only distracting component is the very bright sky reflection towards the top.

Given that I've seen the other two previous shots from the same vintage point, I would have tried to shoot much, much wider and include part of the sunsetting sky (to the right I believe). Just a different style. By getting the sunsetting sky (sp?), the interior would "jump" out more against the dark wall around the windows.

I hope I made sense, the kids are taking bath.

Anyway, I hope it gives a different perspective (no pun intended of course)

It is sad that others are having problems. I have been visiting your site for quite a while, but have never made a post. You have inspired myself as well as other that I know. I have recently bought a cannon 20d, and was pleasantly suprised to find out that you also own this camera as well. It is because of you and others that I am so happy to be getting started in photography. You offer us more than just a snapshot of your life. You offer us a friend to visit when you are stuck in a hotel room for 7 weeks (because of work) and need something to brighten your day. You offer us tips and techniques and many other learning experiences. And for that I thank you, and I hope to now play a more active role on this site. So HI! my name is Stephen. It is nice to meet you.

That's the second site today that I've seen being spammed by idiots. I saw an entry on makinghappy with a person saying that photoblogging is graffiti, or something.. And I will say what I said there: With the billions of people we have living on this planet, a few idiots will surface here and there for sure. As the old saying goes: Never argue with idiots. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

It actually takes a lot more effort to restrain yourself from criticizing someone else's work by not saying anything at all than to just drop a few lines saying "this is garbage" without thinking of anything else other than yourself. .. At least when I criticize, it's not out of disrespect, it's more out of curiosity and scepticism (rooted on ignorance I guess) :) I just keep quiet otherwise.

One of the great things about this site in the month or so that I've been lurking and commenting is the standard of the comments. Long may it remain. Er... and the photography of course
I like the composition of this one- the two waitesses heads leading down to the lady in the RH pane. I think you did catch some sort of decisive moment.

first, kudos on a great picture with many details that kept me looking at it for several minutes. this photo is among those rare ones that at first site don't look so special but when you take the time to look at it long enough the details and the careful composition start to grow. it's a beautiful capture dave.

second, thank you all for your support about what happened at ddoi. Jafar, i do agree about me ignoring him/her/them but that's what i did until now but when my visitors started being insulted by them i couldn't take that anymore. as dave mentioned, i consider my visitors as my guests and feel responsible for the way they are treated there.

thank you again david for you supporting comments on ddoi yesterday.

Out of interest, would the reflections and glare on this shot have been cut out if a polarising filter had been used? On a purely personal level I found them on this occasion to be quite distracting, particularly as it's a shot for someone else's wedding.

I do think it's a nice shot though - but for me, i'd have preferred it reflectionless, if possible.

I dig the random style you post. My photography teacher keeps forcing me to stick to a theme, one set of clearly defined things in a ll my photos. I hate it. When my eye sees something it likes, I think of how to take it the way I want and take the picture...its not some complicated process like the rest of my class makes it out to be.

The coolest part in this is your reflection, with a mix of the peoples actions inside...turned out well, Id just like to see the landscape reflection a little more active...

I like this one, people look like they sit in a lovely antique bird cage, it has a turn of a last century feel to it. Icidentally, have you had any comments on the article yet?

I visit both Chromasia and ddoi almost daily and although I rarely leave any comments, somehow I felt irritated by the debate that occured on ddoi. I simply cannot understand why anyone would do such a thing.

And I must say this is the first time I see Sam commenting anywhere. :)

Interesting picture and I don't want to turn this into a debate on those comments yesterday but....

Surely anyone that doesn't like a picture can be contructive about it, rather than just being insulting, there's no substance or intelligence in those kind of comments, just a waste of their time and other people's.

How much would you charge to fly to America and shoot my wedding? Bear in mind that I won't have much $$ left over after purchasing a time-travel machine so we can go back 6 years to do it. :) I really love the energy you've captured here. The composition is terrific - I don't remember much from my own wedding and wish I had a few shots like this to show me what the vibe was like for my guests.

People suck. In general, I've been amazed at how little trolling garbage we see on photo blogs. *sigh* I really hope this isn't the start of a trend. :-\

sometimes i wonder if we put too much effort on the decisive moment. what i like about this picture is that it feels like a slice of life, and in different parts of the picture you get different stories. so it may not be the decisive moment, but there are still moments going on that are worth recording.

as for the commenting situation, it is sad when people get out of control and commenting needs to be closed. this seems to happen a lot with sites that are quite popular. for some reason popularity seems to bring out the trolls. :(

I admire your courage to take the shot that I often only think of taking. Your courage to capture such a moment inspires me to give it a shot. Thanks for that!

Thanks everyone.

A couple of people have mentioned the reflections: for me they add to the shot, mostly I think because I was there rather than for any photographic reason; i.e. I can remember the rope light against the edge of the verandha, and the paper lanters, and I guess this makes the scene more complete for me. That said, had I thought about it JR's suggestion would probably have worked well too, if not better.

tiffany: if you can sort out the time-travel machine I'll do it for free ;-)