No. 01 — A first word from the studio
The newsletter · No. 01
A first word from the studio
St. Moritz · August 2026
Ferrari 250 GT SWB ‘SEFAC Hot Rod’, 1961 — Back
Welcome to my artistic world of photography. This is my first newsletter — and, I hope, far from the last. Here I want to share my thoughts about the things I photograph. My wish is to make art that inspires, that creates memories, and that leaves you with a good feeling. Through these letters I’ll tell you a little about what I’m working on, how the pictures come to be, and what lies ahead.
These pictures are from St. Moritz. Every winter, cars worth billions roll out onto the ice — a spectacle like no other. If you ever get the chance, it is well worth the trip: beautiful people, magnificent recreations, and, above all, extraordinary cars.
Pictures from St. Moritz
Ferrari 250 GT SWB ‘SEFAC Hot Rod’, 1961 — Front
Lamborghini Miura — St. Moritz
A photographer’s tip
Better portraits, from the phone in your pocket
You don’t need my equipment to make a portrait that feels alive — only a little attention to four things.
Light first. Turn the person toward a window or into open shade — never the midday sun or the phone’s flash. Soft light falling from the side gives a face depth; flat light head-on takes it away.
Then distance. A phone lens exaggerates whatever is closest, so a face that fills the frame will bend and bulge. Take two steps back and zoom in a touch — or switch to the 2× lens — and the features settle into place.
Mind the headroom. When it’s a face you’re after, resist leaving a sea of sky or empty wall above the head. Move in until the eyes sit around the upper third of the frame — a portrait gains presence the moment the person, not the space around them, becomes the picture.
And the eyes. Tap them on the screen to set focus, then nudge the exposure down a hair so the skin keeps its detail. Sharp, well-lit eyes are what make a portrait hold you.
Do only these four, and the difference will surprise you.
You are always welcome to explore the full collection.
Warm regards,
Morten Qvale