HARVESTER

Modern forestry might seem to some like the destruction of the forest floor. Personally, I don’t know enough about it to form a well-founded opinion. What fascinates me, however, are the machines – and the technology behind them. This is exactly what I tried to capture in my images: mobile factories on wheels.

Almost like a predator on the prowl: The extendable arm resembles an oversized spider limb – ready to grab, delimb, and cut a full-grown tree in seconds.

The so-called harvesting head alone combines countless functions, most of which – as far as I understand – are hydraulically operated. The operator’s cabin becomes a command center for a highly specialized work machine.

At the heart of the operation: The harvesting head with its saw unit – precise, powerful, and unmistakably built for efficiency.

We live in a high-wage country where it’s simply uneconomical to fell trees in the traditional way and haul them out of the forest with horses. Especially since this harvest in July was likely bark beetle-infested wood. As long as we continue to consume without thinking about the consequences, ever more efficient machines will be needed. Ideally, they not only improve productivity but also contribute to the safety of forestry workers.

If you take the time to look closely, you begin to grasp the immense forces at work – processing a mature tree into transportable logs within minutes.

Tooth by tooth, the feed roller bites into the trunk – an impressive symbiosis of raw power and technical finesse.

Despite all the controversy surrounding such machines, it’s clear: this one is built for hard work. Its massive tires tell their own story – of rugged terrain, heavy loads, and daily strain.

One of the worn-out limbs of this iron giant – providing secure footing on uneven terrain and pushing the machine steadily forward.

When we sit warm and cozy in our homes during winter, on chairs and at tables made of wood, few of us stop to think about the immense effort behind each piece – and how a harvester quietly and efficiently played its part.