diff --git a/include/geometry.hpp b/include/geometry.hpp
index fbb8f430c..b0efae440 100644
--- a/include/geometry.hpp
+++ b/include/geometry.hpp
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ namespace mapnik
 	
 	virtual int type() const=0;
 	virtual bool hit_test(value_type x,value_type y) const=0;
+	virtual void label_position(double *x, double *y) const=0;
 	virtual void move_to(value_type x,value_type y)=0;
 	virtual void line_to(value_type x,value_type y)=0;
 	virtual void transform(const mapnik::CoordTransform& t)=0;
@@ -82,6 +83,11 @@ namespace mapnik
 	{
 	    return Point;
 	}
+	void label_position(double *x, double *y) const
+	{
+	    *x = pt_.x;
+	    *y = pt_.y;
+	}
 	
 	void move_to(value_type x,value_type y)
 	{
@@ -139,6 +145,40 @@ namespace mapnik
 	    return Polygon;
 	}
 	
+	void label_position(double *x, double *y) const
+	{
+	    unsigned size = cont_.size();
+	    if (size < 3) 
+	    {
+		cont_.get_vertex(0,x,y);
+		return;
+	    }
+	    
+	    value_type x0,y0,x1,y1;
+	    double ai;
+	    double atmp = 0;
+	    double xtmp = 0;
+	    double ytmp = 0;
+	    unsigned i,j;
+	    for (i = size-1,j = 0; j < size; i = j, ++j)
+	    {
+		cont_.get_vertex(i,&x0,&y0);
+		cont_.get_vertex(j,&x1,&y1);
+		ai = x0 * y1 - x1 * y0;
+		atmp += ai;
+		xtmp += (x1 + x0) * ai;
+		ytmp += (y1 + y0) * ai;
+	    }	  
+	    if (atmp != 0)
+	    {
+		*x = xtmp/(3*atmp);
+		*y = ytmp /(3*atmp);
+		return;
+	    }
+	    *x=x0;
+	    *y=y0;	    	    
+	}
+
 	void line_to(value_type x,value_type y)
 	{
 	    cont_.push_back(x,y,SEG_LINETO);
@@ -200,7 +240,10 @@ namespace mapnik
 	{
 	    return LineString;
 	}
-	
+        void label_position(double *x, double *y) const
+	{
+	    cont_.get_vertex(0,x,y);
+	}
 	void line_to(value_type x,value_type y)
 	{
 	    cont_.push_back(x,y,SEG_LINETO);
diff --git a/src/image_symbolizer.cpp b/src/image_symbolizer.cpp
index d1a51922c..acc3ae4fb 100644
--- a/src/image_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/image_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -29,36 +29,33 @@ namespace mapnik
 			 unsigned width,unsigned height) 
 	    : symbolizer(),
 	      symbol_(width,height)
+    {
+	try 
 	{
-	    try 
-	    {
-		std::auto_ptr<ImageReader> reader(get_image_reader(type,file));
-		reader->read(0,0,symbol_);		
-	    } 
-	    catch (...) 
-	    {
-		std::cerr<<"exception caught..." << std::endl;
-	    }
+	    std::auto_ptr<ImageReader> reader(get_image_reader(type,file));
+	    reader->read(0,0,symbol_);		
+	} 
+	catch (...) 
+	{
+	    std::cerr<<"exception caught..." << std::endl;
 	}
-  
+    }
+    
     void image_symbolizer::render(Feature const& feat,CoordTransform const& t,Image32& image) const	
     {
-	typedef coord_transform<CoordTransform,geometry_type> path_type;
 	geometry_ptr const& geom=feat.get_geometry();
 	if (geom)
 	{
-	    path_type path(t,*geom);
-	    unsigned num_points=geom->num_points();
+	    double x;
+	    double y;
+	    geom->label_position(&x,&y);
+	    t.forward_x(&x);
+	    t.forward_y(&y);
 	    int w=symbol_.width();
-	    int h=symbol_.height();
-	    double x,y;
-	    for(unsigned i=0;i<num_points;++i)
-	    {
-		path.vertex(&x,&y);
-		int px=int(x - 0.5 * w);
-		int py=int(y - 0.5 * h);
-		image.set_rectangle_alpha(px,py,symbol_);
-	    }
+	    int h=symbol_.height();    
+	    int px=int(x - 0.5 * w);
+	    int py=int(y - 0.5 * h);
+	    image.set_rectangle_alpha(px,py,symbol_);
 	}
     }
 }