Matthew Stone

Matthew Stone —
“Tree Men of Rockland, Maine”

Matthew Stone’s project follows tree remover Hunter Hoppe, owner of Hoppe’s Tree Service in Knox County, Maine, documenting the demanding work and essential role tree removers play in shaping and maintaining the local landscape.

Hunter Hoppe, 23 year old Maine native, of Hoppe Tree Services, climbs a pine tree in a client’s backyard. The tree is showing signs of rotting and while not in immediate danger of falling, is removed before it becomes a problem.
Liam points up to Hunter in a tree picker to help indicate a branch in need of removal. Sometimes removing rotting branches can save an entire tree from removal.
Sap drips from a tree tapped for removal by a client. Trees can be removed for a variety of reasons including rot or sometimes a client’s aesthetic preference. This particular tree was rotting and in danger of possibly falling on a client’s house.
Liam and Harley swing from a metal pole in the backyard of a client’s house while Hunter cuts a tree. They must wait for Hunter to cut the tree before they can begin their task of dragging pieces of the cut tree to put through the woodchipper.
Hunter bends down to pet one of his three dogs while Liam chats with a woman he is dating. The men are friends and often hangout outside of work. Tonight they are gathered for a bonfire on Hunter’s front lawn in celebration of his birthday.
Hunter Hoppe counts the rings on a freshly cut pine tree to estimate its age as per a client’s request. Hunter’s estimate for the age of the 100+ foot pine tree is between 110 and 120 years old.
Hunter cuts branches from a large tree to prepare for its eventual removal. While Hunter oversees the entire tree removal process, all the men have very defined roles. Hunter is the only one who goes up in the cherry picker.
Harley picks up a branch from a tree Hunter has cut to bring to the woodchipper. The men work very efficiently with Hunter cutting while Liam and Harley handle the fallen debris.
Sap drips from a tree tapped for removal by a client. Trees can be removed for a variety of reasons including rot or sometimes a client’s aesthetic preference. This particular tree was rotting and in danger of possibly falling on a client’s house.
Liam performs a burnout in his truck. The three men of Hoppe Tree Services all have pickup trucks and love to do burnouts for fun.
Harley Cork clears brush from a cut tree in the bobcat while Hunter Hoppe and Liam Collins check their phones. The nature of the work sometimes means one man is working while the other two have to wait to resume their tasks.
Hunter attempts to pick up a large tree trunk with the bobcat. The tree is too big and heavy for the bobcat causing it to lift up on its front wheels.
Hunter Hoppe, 23 year old Maine native, of Hoppe Tree Services, climbs a pine tree in a client’s backyard. The tree is showing signs of rotting and while not in immediate danger of falling, is removed before it becomes a problem.
Hunter rides his Harley through Rockland Maine. While not at work one of Hunter’s favorite hobbies is riding his motorcycle around town and through country back roads.
Hunter hikes through some heavy brush in a client’s backyard. Sometimes the trees are in hard to reach places causing the men to hike with their equipment to reach the tree in need of removal.

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