Street photographer Daniel Arnold has spent over 15 years documenting the candid human moments of New York City, capturing a complex metropolis alive with characters and contradictions. His latest photo collection showcases the spontaneous joy and drama that define the city's streets, from genuine moments of sadness and grief mixed with joy to spontaneous scenes of pure street theater.
Arnold has become a cult figure on the New York art scene, known for his images of colorful encounters with the city's citizens. His work confronts the chaos, chutzpah, humor, and vitality that define New York, presenting a tragicomic style that captures the city's diverse characters in their most authentic moments.
The photographer's new book, "You Are What You Do," published by Loose Joints Publications, features a wide range of candid street-level images that capture the unfiltered rhythms of urban life. Arnold's collection draws from his extensive experience wandering the city's streets, often during pivotal moments in both his personal life and the city's history.
Among the featured photographs is an image Arnold describes as "this little miracle has been following me around for 12-plus years." He recalls crossing his fingers and nervously snapping one shot with his little Yashica camera on the East River ferry, long before he knew how to properly use the equipment.
Another notable image shows a boy using an iPad while wearing pajamas right off Rockaway Beach in October 2017. Arnold reflects on the moment, saying, "You are what you do. Factor that into your screen time analysis... when we made eye contact." This photograph exemplifies his ability to find meaning in seemingly ordinary urban encounters.
The collection also documents significant historical moments, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Arnold captured scenes from Broome and Lafayette streets in June 2020, noting, "Every day I wandered alone, looking at the clouds and laughing. Everything changed but the weather." These images provide a unique street-level perspective on how the city navigated unprecedented challenges.
Arnold's journey into photography began during his previous career as a writer around 2010. He would spend lunch breaks exploring Times Square or Union Square, occasionally mustering the courage to take a picture and surprise himself with the results. This gradual transition from writing to photography allowed him to develop his distinctive eye for urban storytelling.
During the summer of 2019, Arnold experienced a particularly productive period when he "cut off communication in the midst of accidentally falling in love, and re-routed all my tweaked, manic energy into walking-around-work." This personal transformation fueled some of his most compelling street photography work.
One photograph features a woman named Katie in Lenox Hill Hospital, whom Arnold describes as "making effortless glamour of being" in the medical setting. The image reminded him of "Candy Darling by Peter Hujar," drawing connections between contemporary street photography and classic art photography traditions.
From the glamorous heights of high culture to the downtrodden and overlooked, "You Are What You Do" draws a wide, empathic circle around New York City. Arnold's work demonstrates how street photography can serve as both documentary and artistic expression, revealing the humanity that exists within one of the world's most dynamic urban environments.
