I LOVE ugly gallery designs baby!!
Back when I actually had sites I used one banner, usually odd sized, some REALLY detailed and graphic text (usually short stories LOL) and then two links to filter pages. I may have not gotten the mass clicks to the sponsor but when those fuckers clicked they converted at great rates and then I'd always get signups from the filter pages...
I tried doing fancy galleries and such.. just didn't fit my style..
I love long descriptive text.