Escape key no longer functioning to back out of photos in Event view

Question

In iPhoto '09, when you drilled down to view a photo in Event view, you used to be able to use the Escape key to step back a level. With iPhoto '11, I have been unable to do this. Is there a setting I'm missing or something?

Answer 1

I just figured out a great solution to this problem! The goal here is to remap the Escape key in iPhoto so that it functions like the Command-Left-Arrow, which currently has all the functions we wish Escape had. The instruction are fairly simple:
Install KeyRemap4MacBook. It's a wonderful program that lets you take control of your keyboard. It's stable and powerful and quick and free.
Follow these instructions which tell you how to add your own custom settings. (Skip steps 4 through 6, which just give you some example settings to add.)
Edit private.xml so that it looks like the following (or at least contains the following "item", if you have other custom settings installed):
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root>
  <item>
    <name>Escape to Command Left Arrow</name>
    <identifier>private.app_iphoto_escape_to_command_left_arrow</identifier>
    <only>IPHOTO</only>
    <autogen>--KeyToKey-- KeyCode::ESCAPE, KeyCode::CURSOR_LEFT, ModifierFlag::COMMAND_R</autogen>
  </item>
</root>
Finally, save private.xml, then click "ReloadXML" under the "Change Key" tab of the KeyRemap4MacBook preferance pane. Your new setting should appear at the top of the list. Enable it. Restart iPhoto if you feel like it (you probably won't need to). And now, in iPhoto, Escape should work as you want it to!
NOTE: There is one downside I've discovered. You won't be able to get out of Slideshow mode using the Escape key anymore, as this was the one case where Escape originally functioned sensibly. Rather, you'll have to use your mouse to click the X button to escape. But Slideshow mode is terrible anyway. Just use full screen mode instead.