Multi-Column Format Question

I’m using a javascript to balance my columns on my web site. I’m getting ready to re-do this to get rid of the javascript so it doesn’t cause problems with browsers.

My question is: is a three-column format the best format for my site? I will be adding galleries for the photographs, which right now are kind of placed willy-nilly on the site (it looks a mess).

I don’t know whether to keep navigation on the left, or add it to the top. I’m not sure at this point how many pages the website is going to end up being.

What is the best way to handle gallery pages? Linking? Navigation? Anyone with experience with this? I want to try and fix a solution before I get tons of images up on the site. I'm looking into putting a php gallery solution into place.

Which of the three sites in your sig are we talking about? The first one seems to be the only one sporting three columns, and on none of the pages I've scanned quickly I could find a strong reason for a third column.

I'd get rid of it in favour of a more flexible layout based on a grid that allows you to add or remove columns and redistribute their widths based on the specific requirements on each page while still maintaining a cohesive look and feel.

Khoi Vinh has addressed using grids in layout design (http://www.subtraction.com/archives/2004/1231_grid_computi.php) on a number of occasions; recommended reading if you want to now more about grids.
Much more about the topic on this page (http://tutorialblog.org/grid-systems-in-web-design/) (from TutorialBlog).

Sorry, I wasn't clear -- it's the www.tangentgraphics.com site that I'm trying to re-do. The blog and CafePress store came with their own set-up, which I left alone (for now).

Thank you for the links. I shall be doing a bit of reading on the Tutorial Blog, I think.