Q: Storage Crunch on 16 GB iPad

Yes. Purchase more storage >  iCloud storage upgrades and downgrades - Apple Support

Please read this article before you turn off iCPL. You could end up deleting photos on iCloud as well.

iCloud Photo Library - Apple Support

Get the free DropBox app and account. You can offload all your photos, delete them from your iPad then delete the DropBox app if you want and you'll still have your photos.

Remember iCloud only backs up, DropBox stores.

Don't forget that DropBox is accessible from any device from http://dropbox.com/

Also VERY easy to share links from photo files (or any other kind of file)

Oh Wally I didn't ferget. That was gonna be my answer to the OP's follow up question. Said  Beaver Cleaver.

Gee I'm sorry Beaver, I didn't mean to spoil the surprize. Wally

You're the best Wally. B.C.

Thanks Beaver. Well we better wash up, I hear  Mom calling us for dinner. Wally.

Play theme song.

Beav... you've been hangin' around this guy too long!

They're creepy and they're kookey.
Mysterious and spookey.
They're altogether together ookey.
The Addams Family.

The house is a museum.
When people come to see'em.
They really are a scre-am.
The Addams Family.

Neat

Sweet

Petite

So get a witch's shawl on.
A broomstick you can crawl on.
We're going to pay a call on.
The Addams Family.

Ooops! Wrong song!

.

How to upload multiple files at once to Dropbox for iOS | iMore

http://www.imore.com/how-upload-multiple-files-once-dropbox-ios

The iCloud icon is for iCloud Drive, file transfer. To see all your iCloud photo library go to iCloud.com on your computer. Sign in to your account. Tap photos. It can be viewed from an iPad but needs an extra step.

On DropBox all photos automatically  upload just by opening the app.

To save room on your iPad have you tried Settings> photos and camera> optimize ipad storage ?