Hi Molly - that link you've put in above the tomato pic in your thread is fine.... I think it's just the fact that it's pointing back to the same post that's causing the troubles...... (If that was what you piosted in the picture thread it would be perfect).
The best way (if you can manage it) is to have your pic in the picture thread, plus the link to your thread (current post if you;re clever, or just the last page, or worst case the front page and people can click to get to the end).
I thin kthe crop on the lifboat is a definate improvement, and the tomato has great detail in the little hairy bits of the stalk, and the Out Of Focus (OOF) background really makes it pop out well.