Take Your Photography 
to the Next Level

May 30

Learn how to assess your photographic results 
with instructor Roy Sewall in this self-paced course
 along with an hour of instructor led discussion.


Course material available on May 30
Live Sessions:
Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm - Sold Out
Monday, June 8, 7:00pm - Spaces Open

It only takes 4 “Attractors” to make a great photograph, but there are over 60 “Detractors” that can bring any photograph to its knees.

This course illustrates each of these Attractors and Detractors with specific examples. Learn how to identify these in your images and then take your photography to the next level.

Course Content

Course includes videos with audio, a PDF handout, and a live student participation session.

  • Lesson 1: Major Concepts and Attractors

  • Lessons 2: Detractors

  • Lesson 3: More Detractors

  • Lesson 4: Live interactive photo assessment for Full Participation students.

What You Will Get

  • Lessons

    Using videos showing specific images, Roy’s commentary points out the Attractors and Detractors in each. This portion of the is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours worth of material which you can view on your own schedule. It will be available for an additional 30 days past the date of the course.
    This content will be available on the course start date and full participation students should try to view it all before the Live session.

  • Live instruction

    For full participation students, the course concludes with a live session where students participate in identifying the Attractors and Detractors in the images that Roy shows.
    There will also be time during this session for questions from students.

How it works

Full Participation vs. Independent Learning

  • Full Participation

    Full Participation learning gives you the benefit of accessing the materials at your own time from any place while also connecting with the instructor for discussion and feedback. Students are given a robust learning environment that includes online classroom content and live and interactive discussion with the instructor.

  • Independent Learning

    Independent learning gives you the benefit of a robust online learning environment, which includes all course content and videos. Independent learning students will not be able to participate in instructor live discussions or feedback. This is a great option for students wanting to explore a new subject on their own. before taking a full class or a great option for a skill refresher.

Capital Photography Center Instructor

Instructor Roy Sewall

Roy enjoys working with novice and intermediate photographers alike and finds great pleasure helping them develop their eye and their photographic skills.
His interest in photography evolved from extensive travel in six continents during his youth. In 2001 he started his transition to full-time photographer following his rewarding 30+ year career working for several major technology corporations in the Washington, DC area.
Roy has published two photography books, Our Potomac, from Great Falls through Washington, D.C., in 2005 and Great Falls and Mather Gorge in 2009. These were inspired by his affection for hiking and bicycling along the river and the adjacent Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal. His books led to numerous speaking engagements and established him as one of the leading photographers of the Potomac River and C&O Canal.
He has been a guest on WETA’s TV program Great Views of Washington D.C., the lead photographer in the Best of D.C. 2009 publication, in feature articles in the D.C. and Virginia Where Guestbooks, the lead still-photographer in The Nature Conservancy’s 2011 video The Potomac Gorge, and is sought after in many well-known photo competitions for his judging skills.
More about Roy can be found on his website, www.roysewallphotography.com