How can I access the raw profile photo for any given user? I am using the profile photo on users' posts (author image) and I would like to provide a link to download a larger image. I am currently able to get the "full" size of the cropped image like this:

&lt;img src="{{ entry.author.getPhotoUrl('original') }}" alt="{{ entry.title }}"&gt;


Is there a way to get to the image that looks like is stored here:

/craft/storage/userphotos/*
As you've discovered, you can get the full cropped version of the image with author.getPhotoUrl('original'), but Craft doesn't keep a copy of the original un-cropped version of the image around.

And Lindsey is more than 60% correct... user photos are 1st class Asset citizens in Craft 3, making this less awkward.