can you connect your iphone 4s to a first generation ipad, so I can download phone photos to iPad ??

No. You cannot connect the two devices to transfer photos. You can use a third party app to send the photos to the iPad over WiFi look at these two apps.

WiFi Photo Transfer for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes ...

Wireless Transfer App for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone ...

Yes, you can do this using the Apple made Camera Connection Kit. It will allow you to connect your iPhone to your iPad to transfer pictures from the iPhone. It will not work in reverse and it will not allow you to transfer any other types of files.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC531ZM/A/apple-ipad-camera-connection-kit

I have found this very useful while traveling.

Well I just learned something myself. I had no clue - obviously. I don't use the CCK. Thanks for the heads up! 🙂

Yup, it's a neat feature, especially as I tend to use my iPhone instead of a point and shot camera much of the time. And it's much faster than BT. 🙂