please pardon me - I am a complete php novice. I know just enough to be a danger to myself.

Thinking that I knew what you meant, I tried this:
<a>"><?php while (next_album()): ?></a>
which did not seem to help. I am using this javascript to bring up the large images:
<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">
function showPic (whichpic) {
if (document.getElementById) {
document.getElementById('placeholder').src = whichpic.href;
if (whichpic.title) {
document.getElementById('desc').childNodes[0].nodeValue = whichpic.title;
} else {
document.getElementById('desc').childNodes[0].nodeValue = whichpic.childNodes[0].nodeValue;
}
return false;
} else {
return true;
}
}
</script>
and this is the relevant code within the page:
<div id="albums">
<?php while (next_album()): ?>
<div class="album">
<div class="thumb">
<a>" title="<?php echo gettext('View album:'); ?> <?php getBareAlbumTitle();?>"><?php printCustomAlbumThumbImage(getBareAlbumTitle(), NULL, 95, 95, 95, 95); ?></a>
</div>
<div class="albumdesc">
<h3><a>" title="<?php echo gettext('View album:'); ?> <?php echo getBareAlbumTitle();?>"><?php printAlbumTitle(); ?></a></h3>
<small><?php printAlbumDate(""); ?></small>
<p><?php echo truncate_string(getAlbumDesc(), 45); ?></p>
</div>
<p style="clear: both; "></p>
</div>
<?php endwhile; ?>
</div>
<div id="images">
<?php while (next_image(false, $firstPageImages)): ?>
<div class="image">
<div class="imagethumb"><a>" title="<?php echo getBareImageTitle();?>"><?php printImageThumb(getBareImageTitle()); ?></a></div>
</div>
<?php endwhile; ?>
</div>
<div id="bigImage">
<div class="imgnav">
<?php if (hasPrevImage()) { ?>
<div class="imgprevious"><a>" title="<?php echo gettext("Previous Image"); ?>">« <?php echo gettext("prev"); ?></a></div>
<?php } if (hasNextImage()) { ?>
<div class="imgnext"><a>" title="<?php echo gettext("Next Image"); ?>"><?php echo gettext("next"); ?> »</a></div>
<?php } ?>
</div>
<img id="placeholder" src="../../images/blank.gif" alt="" />
<p id="desc">Choose an image to begin</p>
</div>
I hate to be a pest, but the person I made the site for has suddenly decided that having this functionality is the most important thing on the site. Things I wish I had known to start with... Thanks so much for your help!