Hollow and Sky

Black-and-white photograph looking through an open doorway into a sitting room. A person sits in an armchair at the center of the room, one hand held near their chest as they turn to look toward the right. A low table stands in front of them, with a sofa, another chair, patterned rug, floor lamp, and several framed landscape paintings furnishing the room. The dark wooden doorframe and partially open white door surround the scene, creating a frame within the photograph.

Through the Door
Rachel Turney, 2025

“Through the Door” captures stillness, memory, and the idea of being somewhere temporarily. I took this photograph in a historical farmhouse on the small island of Alrø, Denmark. As with much of my photography, this shot is an encouragement to pause and capture the world around us as part of the beauty of the landscape of daily life. It’s also a commentary on technology. This farmhouse had no modern tech, until we brought it in. If you look closely you can see a phone (ubiquitous) and a speaker. The idea of clinging to these things when we are surrounded by paintings, pastures filled with sheep, and the wonders of travel is an interesting and concerning aspect of the human condition. 

Listen to the artist
Rachel Turney reflects on “Through the Door”

Rachel Turney, Ed.D. is an educator and artist located in Denver, Colorado. Rachel is on staff at Bare Back Magazine and is a reader for The Los Angeles Review. Her poetry collection Record Player Life is available with The Poetry Lighthouse.

Website: turneytalks.com Instagram: @turneytalks Bluesky: rachelturney