Fetching of Files saved in database using Generic Handler is slow in ASP.Net

Sir,

I have used 

http://www.aspsnippets.com/Articles/Save-and-Retrieve-Files-from-SQL-Server-Database-using-ASP.Net.aspx

above method to save and retreve files from sql server database. I have uploaded around 50-60 images as jpg. But it taking so much time to get display online. but it's working faster when accessing from local database. 

There's the page where images are displaying [http://earthpublishers.com/banner.aspx]

Is the speed for images retreiving from sql database is  slower as compared to retrieving images from folder..?

.vb code:

Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
            scroll = fillbannerpics()
        End If
    End Sub


    Function fillbannerpics() As String
        Dim x As String = ""
        Dim val As Integer = 0
        Try
            Dim con As New SqlConnection(constr)
            Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("select * from JournalMaster where jtype='Old' order by JournalShortName asc", con)
            con.Open()
            Dim dr As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader
            If dr.HasRows Then
                x = "<table cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' border='0'><tr>"
                While dr.Read
                    x = x & "<td height=""200"" align=""center"" valign=""top"" style=""padding-right:20px;padding-left-20px;""><a href=""journaldetails.aspx?JournalID=" & dr("JournalID") & "&SubjectID=" & dr("subjectID") & """ target=""_parent""><img src=""ImageHandler.ashx?q=" & dr("JournalID") & """ width=""124"" border=""0""></a><br/><font face=""arial"" size=""2"" color=""#1950a2"">" & dr("JournalShortName") & "</font></td>"
                    val += 1
                End While
                x = x & "</tr></table>"
            End If
            con.Close()
        Catch ex As Exception
            x = ex.ToString
        End Try
        Return x
    End Function

Code for ImageHandler.ashx: 

Dim jid As Integer = context.Request.QueryString("q")
            Dim connection As New SqlConnection(constr)
            connection.Open()
            Dim command As New SqlCommand("select JournalPicture from JournalMaster where JournalID=" & jid, connection)
            Dim dr As SqlDataReader = command.ExecuteReader()
            dr.Read()
            context.Response.BinaryWrite(DirectCast(dr(0), [Byte]()))
            connection.Close()
            context.Response.[End]()