[mod_python] Transparently using mod_python to handle images

First let me extend my thanks to this group. It is a fountain of useful 
information.

I am sure that this question will be easily answered by someone here, in 
fact there is probably some code snippets around that will do the deed 
quickly and easily. I am trying to write a handler that will server 
images from a subdirectory. The goal is to have the handler serve the 
image and insert a record into a database indicating the referring page, 
filename, time, etc... It would ideally be a folder within a UserDir, so 
for this to work the user would have to add the appropriate .htaccess 
and index.py files added to it. Users would then just add the images 
they want served to the folder, the handler would do the rest.

I have been doing this with Zope for a while now but need to move away 
from zodb due to size issues. Also, my current approach requires the URL 
to be rather ugly and include an argument (i.e. 
http://server/folder/image?sparky.jpg). I would love to get away from 
passing the argument in the URL and simply have users place the real 
path to the image, then let the handler do the manipulating for me.

Does anyone have any quick pointers or examples of such an application?

Thank you in advance,
Rich