Generate pixel image in Python from array

I'm trying to figure out different ways to visualize data and how to get a grasp on image processing.

Python 2.6: Creating image from array seems to be doing something different

I thought for a simple example, I could create an image from scratch that varies in pixel intensity. I use the A_pixelIntensity array to declare the intensities of pixel colors. I then do a transformation in the create_pixel_gradient function to make the higher intensity pixels darker and the lower intensity pixels whiter.

How can I view this image? Is matplotlib.pyplot the best way? What about PIL.Image and iPython.display?

import numpy as np
#Intensity of Image
A_pixelIntensity = np.asarray([[1,1,1,1,1],[1,2,2,2,1],[1,2,3,2,1],[1,2,2,2,1],[1,1,1,1,1]])
# [[1 1 1 1 1]
#  [1 2 2 2 1]
#  [1 2 3 2 1]
#  [1 2 2 2 1]
#  [1 1 1 1 1]]

#Color of Image
def create_pixel_gradient(A_intensity):
    maximum = np.amax(A_intensity)
    init = np.zeros(A_intensity.shape,dtype=tuple) #Create empty array to populate
    for i in range(A_intensity.shape[0]):
        for j in range(A_intensity.shape[1]):
            pixel_intensity = A_intensity[i,j] #Get original pixel intensities
            value = 255 - int(pixel_intensity*(255/np.amax(A_intensity))) #Lower intensities are more white (creates a gradient)
            init[i,j] = (value,255,value) #Populate array with RGB values
    return(init)

create_pixel_gradient(A_pixelIntensity)
# array([[(170, 255, 170), (170, 255, 170), (170, 255, 170), (170, 255, 170),
#         (170, 255, 170)],
#        [(170, 255, 170), (85, 255, 85), (85, 255, 85), (85, 255, 85),
#         (170, 255, 170)],
#        [(170, 255, 170), (85, 255, 85), (0, 255, 0), (85, 255, 85),
#         (170, 255, 170)],
#        [(170, 255, 170), (85, 255, 85), (85, 255, 85), (85, 255, 85),
#         (170, 255, 170)],
#        [(170, 255, 170), (170, 255, 170), (170, 255, 170), (170, 255, 170),
#         (170, 255, 170)]], dtype=object)