Q: How to transfer images from my iPad air  to my mac?

Only images in the Camera Roll can be transferred to the Mac using iPhoto on the Mac. When connected to the Mac the iPad should be recognized as a camera. If iPhoto does not see the iPad start Image Capture on the Mac and try that.

Image Capture is at Applications > Utilities on your Mac.

Another way. 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

 Cheers, Tom

You can directly transfer photos and videos via WiFi between the iDevices, PCs, and Macs with an App like Photo Transfer.

See: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photo-transfer-app-easily/id365152940?mt=8

Or you can upload the photos and videos to the Dropbox service using the Dropbox App on the iDevice, PC, or Mac and download them to the another device using the Dropbox App on that device. By the way, once the videos are on Dropbox you can share them with others.

See: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8