Paul, there is always a hidden link behind all my pictures (except for that last one above).
I am doing that because I want to provide the reader super quick access to info, samples, reviews, on the picture referred to.
This is no advertising, it's real info that could be very useful to all.
I do that with all my music listening, and movies watching.
...And sometimes I do too with audio gear, and if enough people want to know the origin of the photographs I post (from the thread you started yourself), I would do that too.
At another site I wasn't allowed to do that; you know that site.
The sad thing is that the majority of people don't even know about it; so I have to remind newer members constantly, and even then, it escapes a lot of them.
Hey, someone is listening to some great music right now, and he's sharing it with us all by posting the picture cover of the album, or CD. ...Cool, but even cooler if you can click on that picture cover and it brings you additional info on the artist, his background, his biography, discography, and free music samples of the album's tunes.
That, is complete info in my book, or at least much more than just a pretty cover.
I also usually give my personal opinion, in just few words or more.
If I am on the Internet to communicate with friends, might as well give them the full suitcase.