code: def load_image_from_disk(img_spec):
      
  
      if isinstance(img_spec, str):
          if pexists(realpath(img_spec)):
              hdr = nib.load(img_spec)
              # trying to stick to an orientation
              hdr = nib.as_closest_canonical(hdr)
              img = hdr.get_data()
          else:
              raise IOError('Given path to image does not exist!')
      elif isinstance(img_spec, np.ndarray):
          img = img_spec
      else:
          raise ValueError('Invalid input specified! '
                           'Input either a path to image data, or provide 3d Matrix directly.')
  
      return img
docs: Vanilla image loader.