I'm getting a MySQL error, (using PHPMyAdmin), in trying to select a row from the images table using the "desc" column . My hosting server is running MySql 4.1.22 and the error message implies that MySql thinks that desc is a keyword, not a column name. Is "desc" the standard column name for the description field in the zen photo database?

Yes, it is. "Desc" is of course also a MySQL keyword. To use it in direct queries put it within backticks so mysql does not mistake it.