What is Round Table Camera Club
Round Table Camera Club is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of science, craft and the art of visual communication via Photography.
Our organisation consists of a limited number of members who are passionate about visual arts and photography. We have come together around an idea that promotes research, learning, open discussions about the art, craft and the science of visual communications in general and photography in particular.
Our ideology
Is the advancement of science, craft and the art of visual communication via photography through learning, discussion, collaboration and sharing.
Our difference
We believe hierarchical structures counter productive to open and honest information exchanges. So we have got rid of them: During our discussions everyone has the same opportunity to participate, express and be heard, hence the name ‘Round Table’
How we operate
We have a conventional organisational structure allowing us to function properly, maintain order and to plan for the future. It is during our discussions that we completely disregard this organisational structure and adopt the round table format.
The round table format does not allow us to have a massive membership and we take new members strictly by invitation. We offer services as an expert body on visual communication and photography to schools and other deserving organisations on non- commercial basis.
Our History
The founder of the club, Dr Dinil Abeygunawardane came up with the idea after taking part in discussion forums in two countries. He created the original concept document in May, 2012 and had discussions with photographers in Perth, Western Australia about forming a club. However, he moved back to Sri Lanka in 2013 and those discussions did not go further than the initial discussion stage.
The idea was discussed with Dr Mangalanath Udukala and Mr Henry Rajakaruna in 2013 and they both came on board to execute the plan. The idea was then put forward to a group of participants of a lighting workshop conducted by Dr Abeygunawardne in early 2014.
After the final session of that lighting workshop, which was held at the Independace sauare of Sri Lank, one of the participants; Mr Chiranmayu Medis casually suggested that the first session of the club could be held then and there; so the first session of the Round Table Camera Club was held on 02.03.2014 with everyone present sitting on the floor of the Independence Square of Sri Lanka.
RTCC conducted its first public event on the Photography day of 2014 at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium. The seminar & the discussion was called “Seeing Light”. Since then ‘Seeing Light’ became a regular event of the RTCC calendar.