About the Work
While Izumi shoots professionally,
she has recently realized her iPhone was her “muse” as it gives her an easy
access to be playful and explore creativity in making images. This series, “Urban Haiku” represents a part
of a larger body of work she has been creating utilizing various iPhone
apps. She’s inspired by the simplicity
and abstract patterns she finds in her daily surroundings enjoying the process
enormously.
About the Artist
Born in Yokohama, Japan, photographer
Izumi Tanaka was influenced by her father’s passion for capturing still images
and as a child discovered the magic of photography. She has been taking
pictures ever since.
After a move to California, she
received her B.A.in East Asian Studies at the University of California Los
Angeles (UCLA). While a student, she
began working in television production and eventually put down roots, becoming
a U.S. Citizen. She continued working in
television and films where her gift for storytelling translated into more than
20 years of documentary productions garnering various accolades including an
Imagen Award Nomination for Best Feature Documentary for “Pushin’ Forward” as
well as an Emmy Award Nomination in the craft of research category for a
feature documentary, “Nanking.”
Following a successful career in
production, she rekindled her love for still image. She started photographing interiors and
properties, portraits as well food, animals and products. Her photographs have appeared in numerous
publications including Dwell, USA Today, Los Angeles Magazine.
In addition to her commercial and
editorial work, she is working on several personal projects in fine art
photography exhibiting in solo and group shows.
Izumi is a
charter member of Los Angeles Center for Photography, member of Professional
Photographers of America, and lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband
and two cats.
