How to remove photos from iPhone when using 'Photos'

But the idea of this service is that you don't have images on your phone, they are all in the cloud until I want to view them.

That's not how the iCloud Photo Library works. It's a way to synchronize the photo libraries on all your devices. What is added or deleted to one is added or deleted to all of them. Each device will physically have the same photos on it however, one can select the option to only have an optimized version (i.e. reduced size version) on a device if space is at a premium.

You should read these Apple documents to learn how the iCloud Photo Library works: iCloud Photo Library FAQ - Apple Support. The following is from that document:

Can I use iCloud Photo Library to save space on my device?

iCloud Photo Library automatically keeps all your photos and videos in the original, high-resolution version. Follow these steps to choose how you store your photos and videos on your device:

• In iOS, tap Settings > iCloud > Photos or Settings > Photos & Camera, then select a storage setting.
• In OS X, click Photos > Preferences > iCloud, then select a storage setting.

If you turn on Optimize [device] Storage, iCloud Photo Library will automatically manage the size of your library on your device, so you can make the most of your device's storage and access more photos than ever. All of your original, full-resolution photos and videos are stored in iCloud while device-size versions are kept on your device. You can download the original photos and videos over Wi-Fi or cellular when you need them.

If you turn on Download Originals, iCloud Photo Library will keep your original, full-resolution photos and videos in iCloud and on your device. Download Originals is the default setting for iOS devices with the free 5 GB storage plan and for all Mac devices.

Ive downloaded a few images etc and now showimg 3.4gb in my iphone storage usage. How do I delete the photos I've pulled down?

You can't, unless you delete the photo from iCloud as well. Photos will remove the downloaded photos automatically, when it needs space for other items. It is fully automatic. For me the problem is the other way round. I cannot ensure that the photos that I want to stay on my iPad will stay. I have to download them over and over again, because they quickly get removed again.

I too have a similar issue. I have lets say 10gb of photos and videos on my iPhone. I used to use iPhoto to import and then erase from my iPhone to free storage up. Now I've got some storage issues and wanted to delete my all photos, but I can't. I do have the optimized selected. Just wish there was a better way to get rid of them off my device and keep them in the cloud.

You can not - when you use iCloud Photo Library your library is on iCloud and either the full sized or an optimized version of each photos on each device - any change you make on any device including edits, additions or deletions are reflected on all devices - that is how iCloud Photo Library works

LN

This seems to be a major screw up at Apple. Two week trip with my Grandsons though Yellowstone and the Tetons and a constant shortage of space to take photos on my iPhone (5S 32GB).

Photos on iCloud are not a problem in themselves. I have 100GB of iCloud storage. Not a problem on my MacBookPro with 1TB. Not a problem on my iPad with 128GB.

Problem is, as others keep pointing out and as Apple has not actually addressed (a lot of gobbledygook with no actual solution) how to limit photos on the phone without removing photos from the whole integrated system.

We (family and several companies) are long time Apple users. We have been running all of our businesses on macs since the early 80's. This is the single worst screw up I have seen where the problem has not been addressed in a straight forward manner.

Apple needs to admit that there is a problem and present a solution without repeating instructions that don't actually address the problem.

Problem is, as others keep pointing out and as Apple has not actually addressed (a lot of gobbledygook with no actual solution) how to limit photos on the phone without removing photos from the whole integrated system.

Sorry Apple is not here and has made no statement here about this

However the answer is very clear and well documented by apple and by users here including my post

You can not [control which photos are on a device] - when you use iCloud Photo Library your library is on iCloud and either the full sized or an optimized version of each photos on each device - any change you make on any device including edits, additions or deletions are reflected on all devices - that is how iCloud Photo Library works

I'm not sure how that could be made more clear or more straight forward!

All you can do is set optimized versions for your IOS device

If you do not like it then turn iCloud Photo Library off or use other software - this is the way Photos and IOS devices work with ICPL

If you want a change then you need to tell Apple not your fellow users - https://www.apple.com/feedback/photos.html

LN