Komenich started his career as a photographer at Forbis Studio in
Modesto,
California, in 1973, before moving to the
Manteca Bulletin, where he worked as a photographer and reporter for one year. In 2007, Komenich graduated from the
University of Missouri with a master's degree in journalism. From 2000–2009, Komenich served as a staff photographer and editor at the
San Francisco Chronicle before accepting a full-time teaching position at his alma mater, San José State University. In 2015, Komenich accepted an assistant professor position at
San Francisco State University. Komenich is a 2005 recipient of the Clifton C. Edom Education Award from the
National Press Photographers Association (NPPA). Komenich also served as a 1993-94 John S. Knight Fellow at
Stanford University and served as a fall 2001 teaching fellow at the Center for Documentary Studies at
U.C. Berkeley. He was also a 2006-07 Dart Ochberg Fellow at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, based at
Columbia University. ==References==