An Interview with Norway-Based Creative Joel Hypponen
We invited our friend and talented creative Joel Hypponen to join us on the Harbor Disptach this week. We've been following Joel for years and finally had the chance to sit down and learn more about him and his life in Scandinavia.
Joel Hypponen is a multi-disciplinary creative based in Norway. He combines film and digital photography to tell stories about the relationship between man and nature.
Whether he operates as a photographer, creative director, or producer, Joel dives deep into finding solutions by asking questions and strives to express unpolished, authentic life and emotions with his work.
His commercial work bridges gaps between brands and consumers by challenging the status quo and changing perceptions through relatable experience-focused storytelling.
When Joel is not running, playing golf, skateboarding, or hiking, he is open for business and ready to fly
What originally got you into photography?
I caught the spark for photography soon after I moved to Norway when I started to see how incredibly beautiful the country is, and trying to capture a bit of that beauty with my iPhone. From there it quickly grew into a passion and eventually became my job which I am thankful for having done for the past seven years full time.
The creative side as well as the business side go hand in hand which I enjoy a lot. Photography has connected me with some the most amazing people I’ve met, which many of them have become close friends over the years. Photography has also given me incredible experiences through traveling and ultimately provided a lifestyle where personal life and work blend together in an exciting and fulfilling way.
Talk to us about sauna culture growing up in Finland.
There is a lot to say about that, but sauna is in my DNA and I grew up using sauna several times a week (as most do) since almost every home has one built in.
It has always been a routine that was never really talked about as it is today. Sauna has been for relaxing usually at the end of the day, and in my family we always had a routine of Saturday sauna together before dinner. Public saunas are also where people from all walks of life get together, which was a huge part of my upbringing. I would usually go there with friends and sweat together with tens of strangers for hours and do rounds of heat and icy lake dips while catching up. Sauna is deeply embedded in the culture and widely accessible. For many it’s a social thing, but many use it as a form of meditation as well. There are some unwritten rules, like always keep the door closed and never open it if someone has just thrown water on the heater.
Also - throwing water on the heater is how it works, you will not find “a dry sauna” in Finland. Those rocks are there for a reason, and I stopped counting the times I have had this conversation sitting in a sauna when traveling. People seem to have quite some theories about how sauna works.
What’s your favorite part about sauna?
My favorite part about a sauna session is definitely the first round where the body gets hot and the sweat breaks. Timing that is something I have never done as it’s feeling based thing and every sauna is a bit different. There are always some conversations going on as well, so it’s the opposite of timing and structuring that in any way. The cooling down moments, sitting outside steaming and bonding with whoever is around are the salt of it. Following that is the first jump into the cold water and the shock it gives to the body. After a while doing rounds of that the body gets exhausted and pretty hungry and at that point I usually wrap up. The euphoric feeling and warmth after a good sauna session carries through the evening, and typically gives some of the most restful sleep in the night - which I am a huge fan of.
What’s so special about the culture in Scandinavia? This part of the world really seems to appreciate slowing down and creating meaningful experiences.
That’s really hard to say in general but I believe it has to with the space that forces you to be fully present without any distractions. For most people it’s a sacred time and self-care without any of the things that keep us busy. A phone in a sauna is an absolute no-no for me, nor have I ever seen phones in a properly hot sauna anyway. Also the fact that you are wearing almost nothing side by side with other people makes it a unique environment where all the masks are removed and you simply have to be as you are.
People often talk about deep things in sauna, share their hearts and generally open up, which in many ways makes it also a therapeutic experience at times.
What’s coming up next for you that's got you excited?
As it’s getting cold in Norway, I’m looking forward to some skiing and of course those long minutes freezing in the water following the tingling as the body gets warm again in the heat.
I have also been working on a sauna business together with a dear friend and business partner and excited to launch that in the near future.
You can follow Joel's work on Instagram at @joelhypponen or at joelhypponen.com.
