Photographer Daniel Arnold has released a comprehensive new photo book that showcases 20 years of his street photography work capturing the raw, unfiltered essence of New York City. The book, titled "You Are What You Do," is published by Loose Joints and represents Arnold's obsessive and empathetic approach to documenting urban life in one of America's most dynamic cities.
Arnold has established himself as a photographer who notices details that others overlook on New York's busy streets. His photographs consistently blend humor, sadness, and profound observations while often appearing to balance on the edge of chaos. The images reveal the authentic daily experiences of people living in what many consider one of the world's most vibrant and fast-paced urban environments.
The new publication condenses two decades worth of Arnold's photographic work into a single, comprehensive volume. The book was designed and edited through a collaborative process with Loose Joints founders Sarah Piegay Espenon and Lewis Chaplin. Together, they selected hundreds of photographs from Arnold's extensive personal archive to create what essentially functions as an extended visual diary.
The selection process reflected Arnold's intuitive and spontaneous working methods, though he downplays any suggestion of following a master plan. "I can't say there was any firm criteria, maybe no particular criteria at all," Arnold explained. He described the collaborative editing process as an ongoing conversation between three distinct personalities with different approaches to the material.
According to Arnold, each collaborator brought unique perspectives to the project. "Sarah was super decisive and visual, Lewis was more analytical and practical, and I was abstract, curious, doubtful, hostile, whatever," he said. The photographers noted that their approach was guided more by an agreement on tone rather than strict editorial guidelines.
The resulting collection feels both random and deliberate in its presentation, mirroring the unpredictable nature of street photography itself. The book captures Arnold's ability to find meaning and beauty in the seemingly absurd moments that occur daily in New York City, offering readers an intimate look at urban life through the lens of a photographer who has dedicated his career to observing and documenting the city's endless human drama.
