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Laten

@latensea.bsky.social

350 followers 99 following 1.2K posts

Macro photographer, artist, and horticulturist of 15 years. Devoted to fungi and all things #ForestFloor! 🍄🌱

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Dec 31

I'm liken this lichen #fungifriends #forestfloor #naturephotography #lichen

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · 2d

Some beautiful golden mushrooms for #FungiFriday !
#ForestFloor #Nature #Photography #MacroPhotography

Macro photograph of two bright orange mushrooms, likely Craterellus tubaeformis (yellowfoot chanterelles), growing from damp forest moss. Their slender, translucent stems curve gracefully upward to support funnel-shaped caps with softly curled edges. The surface appears slightly velvety, catching faint moisture under low forest light. Surrounding fronds of deep green moss and fern frame the fungi, their blurred textures emphasizing the delicate luminosity of these fruiting bodies studied in mycology.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · 4d

Viola Canina, one of my favorite flowers to stumble upon!
#ForestFloor #Nature #Photography #MacroPhotography #Flowers #bloomscrolling

Close-up photograph of a common dog-violet (Viola canina) in bloom, its five petals forming a delicate fan of purple hues. The central petal bears fine, dark violet veins that lead toward a pale throat dusted with soft white hairs, a nectar guide for visiting pollinators studied in botany and plant ecology. The flower’s matte petals appear slightly translucent under natural light, while the background blurs into cool green leaves and soil, drawing full attention to the intricate face of the blossom.

Laten @latensea.bsky.social · 11d

Went to the peony farms, found spiders instead.
#ForestFloor #Nature #photography #macrophotography #arachnids

Macro photograph of a white crab spider (likely Misumena vatia) gripping a captured fly. The spider’s long, angled forelegs are outstretched, wrapping firmly around the smaller insect, while its rounded abdomen shows faint striping. The fly’s translucent wings catch the light, its body held motionless in the spider’s chelicerae. The soft, blurred background creates a tunnel-like effect that draws focus entirely to this predatory interaction, a moment studied closely in entomology and arachnology.

Laten @latensea.bsky.social · 13d

A flossflower. Wasn't very minty.
#ForestFloor #Nature #Photography #MacroPhotography #Flowers #bloomscrolling

Macro photograph of a flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum) reveals a central tuft of tubular florets dusted with pollen. This botanical macro photograph captures each slender floret, about three millimeters long, ending in a tiny brush of anthers, emerging from a dense disk of compact buds studded with fine glandular hairs. Surrounding unopened heads appear as rounded nodules. Blurred foliage forms a soft green backdrop. Wildflower photography emphasizes this intricate form.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · 16d

Just a little fungi that I found today. 🍄
#FungiFriday #ForestFloor #Nature #Photography #MacroPhotography

Macro photograph of a velvety tan bracket fungus on decaying bark with moss. The soft semicircular cap spans 1–2 cm, its suede-like surface shifting from pale cream edges to warm ochre center. Beneath, a porous underside releases spores in this polypore (Polyporaceae) specimen. As saprotrophic agents, these fungi secrete enzymes to decompose lignin and cellulose, fueling woodland nutrient cycling.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · 19d

Just some mossy moss from my walk this morning.
#Moss #ForestFloor #Nature #Photography #MacroPhotography

Macro photograph of a vibrant moss gametophyte (likely a liverwort or Bryophyta moss) emerging from decaying bark. Its translucent, ruffled frond-like leaves display jagged edges and minute cell patterns, capturing the delicate texture of bryophyte biology. Slender rhizoids anchor the moss to the wood surface while filamentous structures hint at spore-producing organs. A soft, out-of-focus forest floor backdrop provides contrast without detracting from this botany-focused macro imagery.

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Reposted by Laten

Paul Napier @wildlife-exposures.bsky.social · Aug 30

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly (female
Amherst State Park, Amherst, NY USA
Photographed August 29, 2025
Canon R5, RF 100-500
#photography #wildlifephotography #canon #nature
#photographersunited #animalphotography #macro #insects #naturephotography #darkandmoody #closeupphotography #damselfly #jewelwing

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jul 4

Who loves lichen? I love lichen!! #FungiFriday ! 🍄
#FungiFriends #ForestFloor #NaturePhotography #lichensubscribe

This macro photograph presents a striking top-down view of a cluster of Cladonia lichen, commonly known as pixie cup lichen, a symbiotic marvel of mycology 🍄 and botany. The lichen’s cup-shaped structures resemble tiny goblets or fluted trumpets, each coated in a fine dusting of granular soredia, giving them a textured, almost frosted appearance. Their pale greenish hue contrasts delicately with the muted browns and greys of the bark they emerge from.

Each hollow cup is fringed with rough, uneven rims, and many rise on slender stalks that reach upward with organic irregularity. Several of the cups feature small, reddish-brown dots at the tips—apothecia—reproductive structures that add a subtle pop of color and detail. These structures hint at the reproductive biology of lichens, combining fungal and algal components in a mutualistic relationship.

The background blurs into soft tones of weathered wood and patches of green moss 🌿 below, offering a dreamy, out-of-focus landscape that enhances the minute scale and textures of the lichen. The moss at the bottom of the frame adds a gentle burst of life and color to the otherwise subdued palette, tying the whole natural scene together.

This quiet moment in the forest captures the hidden beauty of slow-growing organisms thriving on bark and stone. An elegant example of #landscape textures at a microscopic scale, it highlights the delicate complexity found in macro photography 📷. Beautiful Moss, #art, and lichensubscribe converge here in a celebration of nature’s overlooked wonders.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jul 1

I love that this yellow peony had little steaks of purple.
#forestfloor #nature #photography #flowers #bloomscrolling

Macro photograph of a golden yellow tree peony (Paeonia) bloom with layered petals unfolding around a central stamen cluster. This flower photography highlights ruffled petals forming concentric rings of satiny texture around pollen-dusted anthers. Dark green lobed foliage fades into shadow, emphasizing the bloom’s vivid color. In botany, peonies store carbohydrates in fleshy roots to fuel spring flowering, classifying them as herbaceous perennials prized for their ornamental display.

Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jul 1

So tiny and cute!

Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jul 1

Wow, love these colors!!

Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 30

A close-up look at the cells on a begonia leaf. They're basically like bubble wrap, and the silvery spots are pulled away from the chlorophyll.
#macromonday #nature #photography #houseplants #macrophotography

Macro photograph of a variegated Begonia rex leaf revealing silvery epidermal spots interspersed with emerald-green chlorophyll-rich cells. Each polygonal cell appears slightly convex, the silvery patches reflecting light while the green areas hint at photosynthetic activity. In botany, leaf variegation arises from uneven chlorophyll distribution, illustrating how some understory plants adapt to dappled light by modulating pigment patterns.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 29

These cress flowers look like little butterflies 🦋
#forestfloor #nature #photography #bloomscrolling #macrophotography

Thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) flower in macro photograph displays four pristine white petals arranged around a tight cluster of four yellow-tipped stamens and a slender central pistil. Fine trichomes cover the green sepals and the deeply lobed leaf below, revealing intricate plant morphology typical of this model organism in botany and genetics. A smooth, blurred backdrop of muted greens and browns emphasizes this botany-focused macro.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 28

Found some pink fungi, not sure what it is. Any thoughts?
#fungifriends #forestfloor #naturephotography #mycology

Macro photograph of a pink resupinate fungus (possibly Phlebia incarnata) colonizing the decaying bark of a fallen log. Blush-pink, smooth, cushionlike lobes overlap in clusters, their velvety, pore-covered surfaces bearing spore-producing basidia in a striking example of fungal saprotrophy in mycology. Beneath, the wood’s fibrous, moisture-darkened grain and deep shadows frame the pastel fungus against a subdued backdrop.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 27

Went on a hike, found some #fungifriends 🍄 !
#forestfloor #fungifriday #nature #photography

Macro photograph of golden oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) sprouting from a decaying log. Fan-shaped caps of vibrant yellow-orange overlap in tiers, each edged with a smooth, curved rim. Beneath, dozens of closely spaced radial gills cascade toward the stem attachment, their fine ridges visible in crisp detail. This saprophytic fungus demonstrates key mycology concepts—decomposing wood and recycling nutrients. Background of moss-flecked bark and blurred green foliage.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 26

I thought this lichen sort of looked heart-shaped. ❤️ Maybe just me?
#ForestFloor #FungiFriends #nature #macrophotography #lichensubscribe

Foliose lichen rosette of green-gray lobes on bark, its white-edged blades dotted with powdery soralia. The folded thallus reveals granular soredia and tiny black apothecia where fungal–algal symbiosis unfolds, illustrating lichenology’s study of these nutrient-cycling bioindicator species. Soft-focus wood beneath frames this intricate organism.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 25

This friendly hoverfly helped me garden this morning.
#ForestFloor #nature #photography #macrophotography #gardening

Macro photograph of a hoverfly (Syrphidae), likely Episyrphus balteatus, perched on the yellow disc florets of a daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). The amber-brown thorax glistens with fine hairs, and its beating wings blur as the compound eyes catch light. In entomology, hoverflies are vital pollinators that mimic bees and sustain biodiversity by transferring pollen across wildflowers.

Reposted by Laten

Tom Astle @tjalamont.bsky.social · Jun 9

Savage's Thin-toed Frog, Leptodactylus savagei; Costa Rica
🐸🌿👁️

An extreme closeup of the eye of a frog, which dominates the upper right of the frame. The iris is deep red below fading to orange above, with fine black vermiculations and a jet black pupil. Part of the frog's face is visible around it. The frog's skin is brown, with black stripes in front of and behind the eye, and black and cream bands on the lower lid.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 24

What is your favorite color of flower?
#ForestFloor #naturephotography #macrophotography #bloomscrolling

Macro photograph of a deep purple pincushion flower (Scabiosa) with cobalt disk florets dusted in golden pollen. The central dome of tightly packed tubular florets forms a textured, spherical core, each capped by minute bumps of pollen. Surrounding it are slender, tapering ray petals that radiate outward like fine ribbons. A soft beige bokeh background offers gentle contrast, highlighting intricate botany and pollination ecology details.

Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 23

Here's a closeup of some Drosera tentacles for #MacroMonday !
#ForestFloor #macrophotography #naturephotography

Macro photograph of a Drosera sundew’s red glandular tentacles, each topped with a clear mucilage droplet. Slender, hairlike stalks of carmine red rise from a velvety green leaf surface, their spherical droplets reflecting light like dewdrops. This carnivorous plant uses sticky mucilage glands in its glandular trichomes to trap insects, a vivid example of plant physiology. Background is a soft, blurred white field.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 22

This spider always visits me while I have lunch, so I named him Crumb.
#arachnids #nature #photography #macro #spiders

Ground spider (Gnaphosidae) on a textured surface in macro photography, showing its glossy dark brown cephalothorax and slender hairy legs. The elongated abdomen is smooth and covered in fine setae, and each leg segment bears sensory hairs. Positioned diagonally, the spider clings to granules and subtle scratches.

Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 21

Do you ever lean in really close to some moss and imagine what it would be like to be so small?
#ForestFloor #moss #naturephotography #macrophotography #thelittlethings

Golden haircap moss (Polytrichum commune) sporophytes rise from a dense gametophyte carpet in this macro photograph. The upright, spiky stalks topped with tiny capsules catch soft backlight, revealing bristly leaf sheaths and fine hydroid threads tangled at the base. This bryology snapshot highlights moss’s role in moisture retention and carbon cycling in forest floors, showcasing detailed texture in moss photography.

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Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 20

I'm not sure what happened with the birds here but the mushrooms sure don't mind!
#ForestFloor #FungiFriday #FungiFriends #naturephotography #mycology

Macro photograph of mulch fieldcap mushrooms (Agrocybe pediades) clustered on decaying wood mulch in a garden setting. The central caps are convex, orange‑brown and 2–5 cm wide, revealing delicate gill plates beneath and supported by sturdy pale stems. Surrounding the mature fruit bodies are younger caps still unfolding, all interwoven with fine root hairs and stray grass blades. This mycological snapshot highlights saprotrophic fungal biodiversity at work in nutrient cycling.

Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 19

Thanks! 😁

Laten @latensea.bsky.social · Jun 19

This cactus is getting ready to bloom!
#ForestFloor #NaturePhotography #MacroPhotography #Cacti

Macro photograph reveals a cactus areole crowned by a rose-shaped bud on a bluish-green stem in this botanical close-up. The central bud, roughly five millimeters wide, displays overlapping, grainy scales like a tiny pinecone. Seven slender, straw-colored spines radiate evenly from the areole’s felted base, each tapering to a sharp point. Subtle surface pores dot the succulent epidermis under soft natural light.

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