Where can I see the iphoto pictures?

Question

Hello everyone.
First of all, this is my first time here for a mac. Previous times were always for my iphone.
I have been playing around with the iphoto, and as the itunes does, it keeps its own library, which I already found.
But the thing is that I cant find the pictures in it, just files. So for example if I want to transfer the pictures to an usb drive, I have to do it using the iPhoto?
And then another thing, if I already have a folder in my mac with pictures and I import them to the iPhoto, I will have them twice, isnt it?
I hope someone could give me a hand with this
Thanks for reading.

Answer 1

iPhoto is a manager for your Photos. It replaces the File browser for anything - and I do mean anything - to do with your Photos. It's the go-to app for your Pictures.
So, yes, to send a photo to a USB Drive: File -> Export or Drag and Drop from the iPhoto Window to the Drive.
By default, iPhoto copies the files into the Library on import, so yes you have them twice.
Some FYI:
Want to use a different photo editor:
You can set Photoshop (or any image editor) as an external editor in iPhoto. (Preferences -> General -> Edit Photo: Choose from the Drop Down Menu.) This way, when you double click a pic to edit in iPhoto it will open automatically in Photoshop or your Image Editor, and when you save it it's sent back to iPhoto automatically. This is the only way that edits made in another application will be displayed in iPhoto.
Want to use your photos somewhere else...
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:   You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.
(Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)
You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
There's a similar option in Outlook and many, many other apps.  If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running:
For users of 10.6 and later:  You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation  which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu.
Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.
For Users of 10.4 and 10.5 Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
Drag and Drop: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
File -> Export: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
Show File:  a. On iPhoto 09 and earlier:  Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.    3.b.
b: On iPhoto 11 and later: Select one of the affected photos in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Reveal in Finder -> Original. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.