diff --git a/doc/examples/plot_regional_maxima.py b/doc/examples/plot_regional_maxima.py
index cc65d2e5..a2f9c570 100644
--- a/doc/examples/plot_regional_maxima.py
+++ b/doc/examples/plot_regional_maxima.py
@@ -36,22 +36,22 @@ Subtracting the dilated image leaves an image with just the coins and a flat,
 black background, as shown below.
 """
 
-fig = plt.figure(figsize=(8, 2.5))
-ax1 = plt.subplot(1, 3, 1, adjustable='box-forced')
-ax2 = plt.subplot(1, 3, 2, sharex=ax1, sharey=ax1, adjustable='box-forced')
-ax3 = plt.subplot(1, 3, 3, sharex=ax1, sharey=ax1, adjustable='box-forced')
+fig, (ax1, ax2, ax3) = plt.subplots(1, 3, figsize=(8, 2.5), sharex=True, sharey=True)
 
 ax1.imshow(image)
 ax1.set_title('original image')
 ax1.axis('off')
+ax1.set_adjustable('box-forced')
 
 ax2.imshow(dilated, vmin=image.min(), vmax=image.max())
 ax2.set_title('dilated')
 ax2.axis('off')
+ax2.set_adjustable('box-forced')
 
 ax3.imshow(image - dilated)
 ax3.set_title('image - dilated')
 ax3.axis('off')
+ax3.set_adjustable('box-forced')
 
 fig.tight_layout()
 
@@ -79,10 +79,7 @@ mask, seed, and dilated images along a slice of the image (indicated by red
 line).
 """
 
-fig = plt.figure(figsize=(8, 2.5))
-ax1 = plt.subplot(1, 3, 1)
-ax2 = plt.subplot(1, 3, 2, adjustable='box-forced')
-ax3 = plt.subplot(1, 3, 3, sharex=ax2, sharey=ax2, adjustable='box-forced')
+fig, (ax1, ax2, ax3) = plt.subplots(1, 3, figsize=(8, 2.5))
 
 yslice = 197