def imread(filename, *args, **kwargs):
    """Return image data from TIFF file as numpy array.

    The first image series is returned if no arguments are provided.

    Parameters
    ----------
    key : int, slice, or sequence of page indices
        Defines which pages to return as array.
    series : int
        Defines which series of pages to return as array.

    Examples
    --------
    >>> image = imread('test.tif', 0)

    """
    with TIFFfile(filename) as tif:
        return tif.asarray(*args, **kwargs)