Morten Qvale was born in Norway in 1957. From an early age, he developed a strong interest in sports—including skiing, handball, football, and swimming—which later led to competitive kayaking. He earned both silver and bronze medals at the Norwegian National Championships.

Educated in the graphic arts industry, Qvale founded Tique, Norway’s first international fashion magazine, in 1983. During the same era, he also established Zone 5 Studios, a professional photo and film rental studio that quickly became a creative hub for both Norwegian and international productions—and which remains in operation to this day. Through Tique, he worked with iconic fashion photographers such as Bill King, Guy Bourdin, and Terence Donovan. These encounters opened the door to the world of photography, and Qvale began developing his own visual expression—deeply inspired by Ansel Adams. Years of disciplined study and work behind the camera shaped a style defined by precision, tonal depth, and timeless composition.

Throughout Tique (1983–2009), Qvale built an extensive international network that led to assignments for major global brands and leading publications. He has worked with international clients such as IBM, Oscar de la Renta, H&M, Reebok, Vanity Fair, and ELLE. As a photographer, he has portrayed some of the world’s most recognized models and personalities, including Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen, Anna Nicole Smith, Björn Borg, Donald Sutherland, and Calvin Klein. In addition, he has directed numerous commercial films and music videos. In the early 1990s, he lived and worked for extended periods in New York, further immersing himself in the international fashion and photography scene.

In 1999, Qvale decided that the future would also include a dedicated focus on fine art photography. His artistic work has since been exhibited in Norway, Sweden, Monaco, and the United States, and has been collected by several prominent art collectors, including Jane and Marc Nathanson, the Møller Collection, Stein Erik Hagen, Ola Mæle, and the Preus Museum. With a career spanning fashion, portraiture, landscape, and automotive photography, his work is characterized by elegance, depth, and an uncompromising commitment to quality.