Can I transfer photos from a USB stick onto my ipad

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

A lot of USB memory sticks require more power than is supplied to the camera connection kit, so it may not work - if you don't want to sync photos via iTunes you will probably be better off using an SD card with the kit.

Whether you try a USB stick or an SD card, you will need to create a DCIM directory off the root of it with the photos underneath it, and the photo filenames need to be exactly 8 characters long (no spaces) plus the file extension i.e. in a similar format as if a camera had created/written them

You can use a USB flash drive & the camera connection kit.

Plug the USB flash drive (works the same with an SD card) into your computer & create a new folder titled DCIM. Then put your movie/photo files into the folder. The files must have a filename with exactly 8 characters long (no spaces) plus the file extension (i.e., my-movie.mov; DSCN0164.jpg).

Now plug the flash drive into the iPad using the camera connection kit. Open the Photos app, the movie/photo files should appear & you can import. (You can not export using the camera connection kit.)

Using The iPad Camera Connection Kit

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4101

Secrets of the iPad Camera Connection Kit

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57401068-285/secrets-of-the-ipad-camera-conn ection-kit/

 Cheers, Tom 😉