Is it possible to use MTP with iPhone without installing iTunes?
iTunes is not responsible for photo import [on either Mac or PC]. 

Windows can use MS Photo Gallery [or equivalent depending on your Win version] as an importer &amp; organiser, the closest free equivalent to Apple's Photos app.

The upside is you don't have to dig around in the file system at all - which is not recommended - the app can handle it all for you.

Re pjctech's answer - idk whether that is also a required first step before my solution will work.