How do I maintain photo filters (e.g. Noir) when transferring from iPhone to iPhoto on MacBook?
I've asked this question at a GeniusBar in an AppleStore and also searched the web quite thoroughly on this.

Apparently, the only way to maintain the filters is with workarounds such as emailing the photos to yourself. 

Background: Only the original photos (without the filter) are stored in the iPhone and iOS applies the filter every time you view the photos or use an iPhone App (like Mail) to export them. Apps from your Mac (like iPhoto) can only access the original photos.