 Ramesh Venugopal
Ramesh Venugopal began his career as a customer service representative at US Color Lab, in New York, learning the pro photo business from the ground up. His hands-on experience working with film, chemicals, prints and processes enabled him to assist clients to his fullest. Gaining the confidence of his employer, he was transferred to Los Angeles in 1994 and opened a satellite office - LA Color Lab. After making a name for himself in the community, four years later, Ramesh secured financing and launched his very own lab, The Icon, in 1998. Ten years later, The Icon has become the premiere conventional and digital imaging resource on the West Coast, catering to pro photographers, creative professionals and the fine art community. Realizing the importance of providing digital support to his clients and bridging the gap between traditional and digital processes, The Bridge Digital Capture company was created in 2002, pioneering the digital capture revolution with its location van concept. Ramesh’s vision is to cater to the client’s needs, by providing the highest levels of expertise and service.
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 Luis Diaz
Luis Diaz has been immersed in the world of photo processing and finishing for his entire career. Having studied the technical end of the business as an undergrad, he moved quickly into a positon with industry leader Kodak and then moved to Los Angeles to join LA Color Lab. He met Ramesh and together they drew the blueprint for the business that became The Icon. As Director of Operations for The Icon, Luis is in charge of the infrastructure of the entire lab and is responsible for making it run smoothly as well as overseeing film processing and printing.
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 Bonny Diadhiou
Bonny Diadhiou studied Fine Art Photography on full scholarship and received a BFA from the School Of Visual Arts in Manhattan (NYC) in 1994. After assisting several top photographers and working at the International Center for Photography, she decided to relocate to Los Angeles where she joined forces with The Icon and launched the Fine Art division.
Bonny has spent the last 14 years immersed in the latest imaging technology and creative strategies to become an expert consultant to professional photographers and multi-media artists. Most recently she has been working as a curator and creative /technical consultant for more than sixteen contemporary photographic exhibits. Two prestigious and critically acclaimed exhibits were hung at the United Nations Millennium Plaza in NYC—Nobil Elderkin's United Nations OCHA and OXFAM: Launch of the 2008 UN Humanitarian Action Plan for DR Congo, December '07 and Sebastian Copeland's Antarctica: The Global Warning, October '07. Bonny assisted these artists as Icon's Fine Art and Creative/Print Consultant. Bonny's association with Sebastian Copeland began with work on his Celebrity Portrait exhibit at TransPhotographiques, Paris, May 2007. In 2006, she acted as print and curatorial consultant to photographer, Dorit Thies, and the Aids Healthcare Foundation to create AfricAlive, a portrait exhibit of African HIV Aids survivors, which has shown in major U.S. cities and in Toronto, Canada, with plans to show in Johannesburg, South Africa. That same year she was creative and print consultant to Pulitzer prize-winning photojournalist Don Bartletti for his retrospective at MOPA, San Diego.
On behalf of The Icon’s commitment to the Fine Art community, Bonny offers her expertise, collaborating with photographic artists, to fully realize their final images, leading to exhibitions of unparalleled impact. Her sensitivity to each artist's personal vision, coupled with her own perceptive aesthetic, makes her an invaluable resource for clients and the Icon. In this rapidly changing world of technical and media options, she helps each artist extend their work in ways that they may not have considered.
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 Paul Batoon
Paul Batoon is a conceptual thinker who studied literature and art history at UCLA and at the Sorbonne, in Paris. As a graphic artist, Paul has created branded packaging, illustrated a line of clothing for 60’s fashion icon Rudi Gernreich, and has won awards for his book cover designs. As the Fine Art Printing specialist for The Icon, Paul brings his design sensibility to bear while blending art and technology – resulting in the finest prints possible.
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 Jim Ostermann
Jim Ostermann is a seasoned photographic and digital lab executive. He’s worked with the largest photographic equipment providers and pro-labs in the country. At the retail sales division of Calumet Photographic, Jim quickly moved into a management role and launched the flagship Los Angeles store in Hollywood. The A&I profession lab recruited Jim to restructure their sales division, resulting in streamlined operations and a client roster that included top entertainment companies ABC, NBC and Fox.
Jim recently joined The Icon team, and now provides top photographic and digital lab resources and solutions to both entertainment and corporate clientele.
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 Khodr Cherri
Upon completing his studies at the American University in Beirut, Khodr Cherri followed his dream, moved to Los Angeles and began his career in photography. Perfecting his skills as a film technician by day and continuing his education at Art Center at night, Khodr quickly advanced, becaming the production manager at Nardulli working with top photographers such as Herb Ritts, Helmut Newton, and Norman Jean Roy, as well as publications Vogue, Time and National Geographic. His expertise in digital retouching and his skills in client relations enabled Khodr to collaborate with clients including Andrew McPherson and Sebastian Copeland in curating and preparing their art for exhibition, often on unique and unconventional media. Khodr was most recently General Manager at Pro One Lab and has joined forces with The Icon in the recent acquisition. The Icon welcomes Khodr as our newest member to the management team.
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