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Natasha Komoda

Natasha Komoda

Natasha Komoda is an editorial and commercial photographer based in Bloomington. She is devoted to portraying her subjects with complete authenticity and presenting to the viewer the unique essence that lies beyond physical appearance. Natasha is also the founder of Femmeography, a photographic service that uses the art of portraiture to heal body image negativity. Natasha puts a lot of heart and compassion into her work and cherishes every person she has the opportunity to photograph. View more of Natasha's work at www.natashakomoda.com.

Posts by this contributor 14 results
Ever since a team from a Black fraternity raced in the inaugural Little 500 in 1951, the race has had few minority participants. A concerted effort in the 2000s seemed to have broken the color barrier, with Team Major Taylor finishing as high as second place, but today the men’s and women’s races are nearly as white as ever. Pictured here is Team Major Taylor cyclist Simeon Commissiong prior to the start of the 2004 race. | Courtesy photo

65 Years of Desegregating Little 5 — at Every Turn
Natasha Komoda
Ever since a team from a Black fraternity raced in the inaugural Little 500 in 1951, the race has had few minority participants. A concerted effort in the 2000s seemed to have broken the color barrier, but today the men’s and women’s races are nearly as white as ever. Sarah Gordon takes an in-depth look at race in the most important race on campus. Click here to read the full story.
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Night Moves, Bloomington’s only strip club, faces a changing city, full of misperceptions, contradictions, and challenges. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Will the Show Go On? Strip Club Faces a Changing City
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
Night Moves, Bloomington’s only strip club, faces a changing city. Writer Paulina Guerrero looks into the misperceptions, contradictions, and challenges faced by not only the longtime establishment but also its dancers — and by the sex work industry in general. Click here to read the full story.
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A handful of social-service organizations in southern Indiana, including Bloomington's Indiana Recovery Alliance (IRA), are using harm reduction in response to the current drug epidemic to try to reshape the way people think about addiction, drugs, risk, and community health. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Harm Reduction: A Challenging New Approach to the Drug Scourge
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
The drug-addiction epidemic in southern Indiana has defeated almost every effort people have tried to address the problem. But writer Paulina Guerrero looks into how some groups, such as the Indiana Recovery Alliance, are finding that a new method, called harm reduction, often has better results than the decades-old war on drugs. Click here to read the full story.
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Many argue that The Chocolate Moose gives Bloomington a sense of place — that "unquantifiable, powerful idea" that a little building can help to make Bloomington feel like Bloomington. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Are Market Forces Ruining B-town’s ‘Sense of Place’?
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
Bloomington’s downtown landscape has changed dramatically in the past decade — influenced more by college students who desire modern amenities than by longtime residents who want to preserve their hometown. Writer Sarah Gordon considers how the conflicting goals of property development and historic preservation affect our “sense of place.” Click here to read the full story.
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Laura Reagan sits with her twin sons, Korbyn (left) and Jarek, and their dog, Sancho, and cat, Squishy. Reagan has dealt with food insecurity on and off throughout her entire life and has worked very hard to protect her sons from the stress of being food insecure. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Food Insecurity, Part 2: Seniors and Children Are the Most Vulnerable
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
In part 2 of this three-part series, Sarah Gordon looks at two of the larger groups of Americans who are experiencing food insecurity — seniors and children. Not only are they more vulnerable and susceptible to hunger and malnutrition than most of the population, they’re also less able to improve their situations. Click here to read the full story.
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Permaculture, says writer Daniel Bingham, originated as an attempt to reshape industrial agriculture into sustainable ecological design that works in harmony with the natural world. First applied to farmsteads, it’s also used to create self-reliant homesteads. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Can Permaculture Make Society Sustainable? Part 1
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
Permaculture, says writer Daniel Bingham, originated as an attempt to reshape industrial agriculture into sustainable ecological design that works in harmony with the natural world. First applied to farmsteads, it’s also used to create self-reliant homesteads. Part philosophy, part methodology, and part science, permaculture integrates humans with the natural environment. Click here to read the full story.
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Stephanie Solomon, the director of education and outreach at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, says the problem of food insecurity is broader and more systemic than many people realize. Monroe County is tied for the fourth-highest hunger rate in the state. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Food Insecurity, Part 1: Misconceptions Persist About Who Needs Help Getting Food
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
In this three-part series, Sarah Gordon investigates the popular misconceptions about “food insecurity” — the inability to afford nutritious, or even enough, food. Most people considered food insecure are seniors and families with children. Many are our neighbors. Local experts say the problem is more systemic than most people are aware. Click here to read the full story.
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Terran Marks, resident blacksmith and owner of Brown County Forge, working in the Ingot Workshop at Artisan Alley, an artist collective on South Rogers Street. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Fair, Open House on March 26 to Showcase Artisan Alley on S. Rogers St.
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
A collective of glassblowers, painters, welders, photographers, and more, Artisan Alley is on property slated to become part of Switchyard Park. For now, though, founder Adam Nahas is providing a home for artists with a variety of artistic needs. On Saturday, March 26, the collective hosts an art fair and open house. Click here to read the full story.
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Many local bars have staff members responsible for intervening in situations that appear to be dangerous. For example, The Atlas Ballroom says it hires more door staff per square foot than any other bar in town. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Managers of Local Bars Say Preventing Sexual Assault Is More Art Than Science
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
While alcohol is called the single most common date-rape drug, at least one study shows that the culprits of unwanted sexual contact in bars are usually sober. In this report by Sarah Gordon, the people who run three bars in Bloomington and the prevention programs coordinator at Middle Way House talk about preventing sexual assault. Click here to read the full story.
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Mary D'Eliso, who has been the librarian at University Elementary School since 2004, shares some of her favorite children's books. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

14 Books Kids Will Love to Get as Gifts
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
Books, arguably, make the best presents. And children’s book expert Mary D’Eliso knows some of the best books you can give. Since 2004, after 15 years in the children’s department at Monroe County Public Library, D’Eliso has been the librarian at University Elementary School. As writer Jen Hockney Bratton puts it, “This librarian knows her stuff.” Click here to read the full story.
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Among the Finalists for the National Book Award is "Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude," a collection of poems by Indiana University professor Ross Gay. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Book by Local Poet Ross Gay Selected as Finalist for the National Book Award
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
The National Book Foundation just announced the Finalists for the National Book Award. Among them is Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, a collection of poems by Indiana University professor Ross Gay. In this profile by Brian Hartz, Gay reflects on his work, on the powerful influence Bloomington has had on his poetry, and what this national recognition means to him. Click here to read the full story.
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Members of Sitcom Theatre include (back row, l-r) Bethy Squires, Colin Jenkins, Chris Clements, Janelle Beasley, Courtney Foster, William McHenry, (middle row, l-r) Jenna Beasley, Kim Naeseth, Nicci B, (front row, l-r) Erin Tobey, and Michael Barton. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Sitcom Theatre: Situational Comedy Local experimental theater troupe explores themes both alien and familiar in their genre-spanning productions.
Natasha Komoda, Natasha Komoda
McKee Woods and Natasha Komoda attend rehearsals of Trading Faces, the latest play from Sitcom Theatre, a local theater troupe that creates experimental plays “with a tight lens on the absurd and cleverly bizarre.” Co-founders Bethy Squires and William McHenry reveal how their creative inspirations (from ’50s sci-fi movies to Friends sitcom episodes to the local punk-rock scene) help to inform their themes — whether wacky, campy, straight, or queer. They will perform Trading Faces Friday, September 25, at The Back Door. Show at 8 p.m., doors open at 7. Click here to read the full story.
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