I'd like my portfolio thumbnails to open directly in lightbox mode when clicked on. I'm experiencing two complications;

1. After clicking the thumbnail text, the full size image begins loading in lightbox mode. Then either during or just after the full sized image loads in lightbox mode, the page refreshes itself and the full sized image automatically reloads aligned to the top of an empty browser window. How can this be fixed?

2. Is there a way portfolio thumbnails with overlayed text can have their entire area active for opening them in lightbox mode? When I click outside of the thumbnail's active text, the full sized image loads at the top of a blank browser. Ideally I'd like users of my website to be able to view portfolio images in lightbox mode by clicking anywhere on the thumbnail.

Apologies if I've confused you at all.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.