If all you are trying to do is grab an image from a web server via a URL there is an easier way.
This is what I use:
UIImage* myImage = [UIImage imageWithData:
[NSData dataWithContentsOfURL:
[NSURL URLWithString: @"http://example.com/image.jpg"]]];
And if you want to use it on an image view just do the following:
// Let's assume the picture is an instantiated UIImageView
[picture setImage: myImage];
[myImage release];
I'm sure there are reasons why a person might not want to use this approach, but I would start with this and see if it will do what you need it to.