$(document).ready(function (){
	
	$("#pictures a")
	.append("<span />")
	.find("span")
	.css("opacity",0);
	
	$("#pictures a").mouseover(function() {
		$(this)
		.find("span")
		.animate( { opacity:1.0 }, { queue: false, duration: 500 });
		var backgroundImg = $(this).css("background-image");
		var linkHeight = $(this).css("height");
		var linkWidth = $(this).css("width");
		
		$(this)
		.find("span")
		.css("background-image",backgroundImg)
		.css("height",linkHeight)
		.css("width",linkWidth);
		
	}).mouseout(function() {
		$(this)
		.find("span")
		.animate({opacity:0}, { queue: false, duration: 500 });
	});
	
});