My Macbook is dead. Is there a way to retrieve files and pics using the cloud?

hi, although the macbook no longer works, your HDD is probably still healthy.

If you haven't done the necessary operations before it didn't work, icloud cannot help you.

So, I suggest getting a hardrive enclosure, getting your Hard drive out of the macbook, and searching for your files this way, or getting them on another mac through migration assistant.

How to move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support

It depends on what information, if any, that you had synced to iCloud. You can use any computer browser and log in to www.icloud.com to see what is there.

It sounds like you are trying to go to www.icloud.com on your phone. My previous reply said "You can use any computer browser and log in to www.icloud.com to see what is there." The reason is that www.icloud.com is not designed for mobile access. You can force your iPhone to do it by first entering www.icloud.com into Safari and then press and hold the semi-circular arrow refresh icon in the address bar until "Request Desktop Site" appears near the bottom of the screen. You will have a better experience if you use a computer if possible.

I am suggesting that you go to www.icloud.com only so that you can see what you had stored on iCloud from your Mac (if anything). Once you know what is there I can give you more details about how to sync it to your iPhone (if that is what you want to do) or how you might download it or sync it to a replacement computer.

If you wish to remove the hard drive, as suggested by VinceDaVinci, an alternative to a full hard drive enclosure would be a universal USB hard drive adapter (one example at http://www.newertech.com/products/usb3_universaldriveadap.php; similar devices in many computer shops). If needed, hard drive removal instructions can be found in the MacBook manual or in a separate Apple article:

https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1205/en_US/MacBook_13inch_Late2009 _UG.pdf

https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1533/en_US/macbook_13inch_mid2010_ ug.pdf

https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1534/en_US/MacBook_13inch_Hard_Dri ve_DIY.pdf

The USB adapter can be used with another Mac, in the same way as a USB enclosure. A Windows PC could be used for the retrieval of (certain) files, but only if a special utility for Mac disks (such as MacDrive) is installed. A Linux PC would (with or without additional installation of packages) also be capable of reading a Mac-formatted disk.

BTW, does the MacBook show any signs of activity? If not, have you ruled out a problem with the power supply?