You keep asking questions so I keep exploring and finding new things I did not know existed. smile

IF YOU ARE IN A HURRY TO GET AN IMAGE TO PHOTOS ON ICLOUD...
  1. Log onto your iCloud account and open the iCloud Photos App
  2. On the iCloud Photos toolbar click on the iCloud icon.
  3. Using the Finder navigation window that appears, navigate to the image(s) you want to upload.
  4. select the image(s) and click "Choose"
  5. A progress bar will appear at the bottom of the window indicating file upload progress.
COMMENT: The entire process can easily be performed in less that a minute to move an image from my desktop to iCloud Photos. That new image appeared in Photos on my iPhone approximately 14 seconds later. No folder or album was involved on the desktop, iCloud, or iPhone, just Photos > Moments > Today.

NOTE: I have tested this with a variety of image formats including JPG, JP2, GIF, MOV, PDF, PSD, TIF, PNG, and RAW. Unfortunately iCloud Photos currently recognizes only JPG for direct upload. FWIW I submitted an enhancement request that iCloud Photos should upload and import any file format supported on MacOS Photos.

Last edited by joemikeb; 03/15/18 06:40 PM. Reason: clarification
If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein