Q: downloading photos from icloud

Hey ncl03,

I understand that you want to download some photos from iCloud and save them to your computer. Here is an article for you about the best way to accomplish this goal:

Photos and videos

You might already have a copy of your library in iCloud Photo Library and the last 30 days of photos in My Photo Stream:

• If you enabled iCloud Photo Library, your photos and videos are automatically uploaded to iCloud at full resolution. To make copies of these photos and videos: 
   
  • In iOS 8 or later, tap Settings > iCloud > Photos. Then select Download and Keep Originals and import the photos to your computer. 
   
  • In OS X Yosemite v10.10.3 or later, open the Photos app. Choose Photos > Preferences, then select Download Originals to this Mac.
   
  • If you want to download a few photos or videos, you can use iCloud.com to download the most recent version of photos and videos to your computer.
• In OS X, My Photo Stream photos are automatically imported to your Photos, iPhoto, or Aperture library, unless My Photo Stream and Automatic Import are turned off in the app's preferences. If you enabled iCloud Photo Library, you can find your photos in the All Photos folder instead of My Photo Stream. 
  Use these steps to check your settings: 
   
  • In Photos, go to Photos > Preferences > iCloud.
   
  • In iPhoto, go to iPhoto > Preferences > iCloud. 
   
  • In Aperture, go to Aperture > Preferences > iCloud.
• In Windows, My Photo Stream photos are automatically imported when My Photo Stream is turned on in iCloud for Windows.

You can also use the steps below to manually copy your photos and videos. Any comments or likes attached to a shared photo aren't saved, and photos and videos saved from shared albums aren't full resolution.

Copy content from My Photo Stream and iCloud Photo Sharing on your iOS device

If you haven’t turned on iCloud Photo Library, use these steps to copy content from My Photo Stream in iOS 8.1 or later:

1. Open Photos, tap Albums, then tap My Photo Stream.
2. Save photos using one of these methods: 
    
   • Tap an image to open it, then tap . To select more images, scroll the images left or right and tap the ones you want to save. Tap Save Image.
    
   • Tap Select, then tap the images you want to save. Tap , then tap Save Image.
3. Import the photos to your computer.

Use these steps to copy content from a shared album in iOS 8 or later:

1. Open Photos, tap Shared > Sharing, then tap the name of the shared album.
2. Save photos using one of these methods: 
    
   • Tap an image to open it, then tap . To select more images, scroll the images left or right and tap the ones you want to save. Tap Save Image.
    
   • Tap Select, then tap the images you want to save. Tap , then tap Save Image.
3. Import the photos to your computer.

In iOS 7, use these steps to copy content from My Photo Stream or a shared album:

1. Open Photos. 
    
   • To copy content from My Photo Stream, tap Albums, then tap My Photo Stream.
    
   • To copy content from a shared stream to which you subscribed, tap Shared, then tap the name of the shared photo stream.
2. Save photos using one of these methods: 
    
   • Tap an image to open it, then tap . To select more images, scroll the images left or right and tap the ones you want to save. Tap Save to Camera Roll. (If you're using an iPhone 4S or iPhone 4, tap Next, then tap Save to Camera Roll.)
    
   • Tap Select, then tap the images you want to save. Tap , then tap Save to Camera Roll.
3. Import the photos to your computer.

Copy content from iCloud Photo Sharing in OS X Mountain Lion or later

Follow these steps to manually import photos and videos in shared streams to your Photos Library: 

1. Open Photos and select the Shared tab.
2. Double-click a shared stream.
3. Right-click (or Control-click) a photo and choose Import.

Follow these steps to manually import photos and videos in shared streams to your iPhoto library: 

1. Open iPhoto and choose Shared > iCloud in the Source list.
2. Select a shared stream under Family and Friends' Streams.
3. You can import all new content or choose which items you want to import:  
    
   • To import all new content, click Add To, then click Import.
    
   • To import specific items, open the shared stream, hold down Command, and select what you want to import. Click Add To, then Click Import.

Follow these steps to manually import photos and videos in shared streams to your Aperture library:

1. In the Library inspector, select Photo Stream.
2. Double-click a shared stream.
3. Select the photos or videos you want to import.
4. To import the photos or videos, drag them to a project or an album in the Library inspector.

After you import your photos, you might want to back up your library. You can learn more about backing up with Photos, iPhoto, or Aperture.

Copy content from My Photo Stream and iCloud Photo Sharing in Windows

All photos in My Photo Stream are automatically saved to your PC, and saved photos are available even if you turn off Photos in iCloud for Windows. To save photos and videos from a shared stream, you must save them to another folder on your hard drive:

1. Open iCloud for Windows.
2. Click the Options button next to Photos (or Photo Stream). Note the path listed under iCloud Photos location.
3. Open a File Explorer window (Windows 8) or Windows Explorer window (Windows 7).
4. Go to the iCloud Photos folder using the above path. Open the Shared folder.
5. Select the photos you want to save, then copy them to another folder on your computer. Include this folder if you back up your computer.

For information on backing up your Windows computer, see Microsoft Support.

Archive or make copies of your iCloud data - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204055

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