diff --git a/GPy/plotting/matplot_dep/latent_space_visualizations/controllers/imshow_controller.py b/GPy/plotting/matplot_dep/latent_space_visualizations/controllers/imshow_controller.py
index 66c9a018..87f7df7b 100644
--- a/GPy/plotting/matplot_dep/latent_space_visualizations/controllers/imshow_controller.py
+++ b/GPy/plotting/matplot_dep/latent_space_visualizations/controllers/imshow_controller.py
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ class ImshowController(BufferedAxisChangedController):
         """
         super(ImshowController, self).__init__(ax, plot_function, plot_limits, resolution, update_lim, **kwargs)
 
-    def _init_view(self, ax, X, xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax, **kwargs):
-        return ax.imshow(X, extent=(xmin, xmax,
+    def _init_view(self, canvas, X, xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax, **kwargs):
+        return pl.imshow(canvas, X, extent=(xmin, xmax,
                                     ymin, ymax),
                          vmin=X.min(),
                          vmax=X.max(),
diff --git a/GPy/plotting/matplot_dep/plot_definitions.py b/GPy/plotting/matplot_dep/plot_definitions.py
index df75b839..174d0cd3 100644
--- a/GPy/plotting/matplot_dep/plot_definitions.py
+++ b/GPy/plotting/matplot_dep/plot_definitions.py
@@ -161,13 +161,19 @@ class MatplotlibPlots(AbstractPlottingLibrary):
         where = kwargs.pop('where') if 'where' in kwargs else None
         # pop interpolate, which we actually do not do here!
         if 'interpolate' in kwargs: kwargs.pop('interpolate')
+
+        from itertools import tee
+        try:
+            from itertools import izip as zip
+        except ImportError:
+            # python 3 already is izip
+            pass
         
-        from itertools import tee, izip
         def pairwise(iterable):
             "s -> (s0,s1), (s1,s2), (s2, s3), ..."
             a, b = tee(iterable)
             next(b, None)
-            return izip(a, b)            
+            return zip(a, b)            
             
         polycol = []
         for y1, y2 in pairwise(percentiles):
diff --git a/GPy/testing/plotting_tests.py b/GPy/testing/plotting_tests.py
index 90d1f264..3f8da666 100644
--- a/GPy/testing/plotting_tests.py
+++ b/GPy/testing/plotting_tests.py
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@
 # OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #===============================================================================
 import numpy as np
-import GPy, os, sys
+import GPy, os
 from nose import SkipTest
-import unittest
 from matplotlib.testing.compare import compare_images
 
 try:
@@ -48,20 +47,12 @@ def _image_directories(func):
     Create the result directory if it doesn't exist.
     """
     module_name = func.__module__
-
-    path = module_name
-    
     mods = module_name.split('.')
-    subdir = os.path.join(*mods)
-    
     basedir = os.path.join(*mods)
-    
     result_dir = os.path.join(basedir, 'testresult')
     baseline_dir = os.path.join(basedir, 'baseline')
-
     if not os.path.exists(result_dir):
         cbook.mkdirs(result_dir)
-
     return baseline_dir, result_dir