This is a short interview with French-Canadian artist-adventurer Daniel Fox, of the Wild Image Project. Daniel was named Aquapac Outdoor Champion 2009 - which came with a cash award of $1,500 - for his work in championing the great outdoors.

Aquapac: First, tell us about the Wild Image Project - what is it?

Daniel: When I was young I religiously watched the TV shows of Jacques Cousteau and David Attenborough, and dreamed of one day doing the same. After trying for 10 years to comply within the business world, I decided it's never too late to return to your dreams. So I created the Wild Image Project - to travel the remote places of this beautiful world, to photograph and film nature's beauty. I hope to inspire the world in the same way that Jacques Cousteau and David Attenborough inspired me.

Aquapac: Is this a project with a start date and an end date, or an on-going thing?

Daniel: It certainly had a start date. That was the day I sat down and started to think how I would make all this happen. But it has no end-date. The Wild Image Project is now my job, my career. I will travel the world as long as I can.

Aquapac: Now tell us a bit about yourself - what were you doing before you started the Wild Image Project?

Daniel: I have always been a bit of a social entrepreneur. I created a website called ibrido.tv - the name comes from the Italian word for hybrid. I wanted to present information with a glass-half-full mentality rather than the common trend of presenting news with an apocalyptic twist. Our world is not doomed. People need to be inspired, they need to have hope, otherwise what is the point of living? Then I created House of Jimmu, an organization to promote awareness among children and parents about the importance of healthy food and contact with nature. Jimmu is the legendary first emperor of Japan; his reign was remembered as one of peace and prosperity.

Aquapac: That's quite a resumé! As well as setting up fascinating projects, have you travelled much?

Daniel: I have always had the travelling bug. When I was 17, only two days after leaving school, I hitchhiked across Canada from Montreal to Banff. Then in my early twenties I travelled Europe by train. I spent a lot of time in Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. Then I worked on private yachts, crossed the Atlantic twice by boat and spent the summer working in the Caribbean. In my late twenties, I went to Denmark and Switzerland to attend Reboot and Pioneer conferences.

Aquapac: Not your average two-week vacation on the beach, then. It sounds a good base for your Wild Image travels?

Yes. The Wild Image Project will take me around the world. Starting with Argentina. Then the Falklands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia, Antarctica, Bouvet Island, Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands, the Kerguelens, Heard and McDonald Islands, Australia, Auckland Islands, New Zealand, the Chathams, the Kermadecs, Ogasawara Islands, Japan, the Kurils, Aleutians, Alaska and the Arctic.

Aquapac: And the project is already underway. Tell us about the first leg of the expedition. Where exactly were you travelling, and what were you doing?

Daniel: The first leg was spent in Argentina, travelling by kayak - the most intimate way of travelling on water. I established base camp at the Peninsula Valdez, and then paddled the coast of the Chubut Province, the Rio Chubut and the Golfo Nuevo and San José - the two gulfs around the Peninsula. The area is home to many dolphins, whales and orcas. Kayak is undoubtedly the best way to get close to marine wildlife without disturbing them.

Aquapac: When you're not kayaking and travelling round the world - where are you based?

Daniel: Honestly, right now, I am baseless. I am not sure where I will settle or when. I have been living in New York and Los Angeles for 10 years now. As we speak I am in New York since my supporting circle is here. I just got back from Portland, a city I really like, and I'd consider living there. But I don't know. I guess I'm just a nomad by nature.

Aquapac: And if you're not working on your books or your photos, what keeps you busy at home?

Daniel: Preparing the next expedition! I used to be an agent for photographers and painters in my early days, so I understand the value of promotion. There is so much talent out there - just look at Flickr and similar sites - and those photographers are usually amateurs. Then you have the world of professional photography. I understand that to succeed, my work needs a niche, a clear signature, and then I need to promote it. I need to create a following, then keep my followers happy. And all this needs a lot work. It's hard, but I love it.

Aquapac: Tell us about the Aquapac products you use. How did they perform on your recent journey?

Daniel: I used the SLR case, the iPod case, the Map Case and the new Wet & Dry Backpack. Aquapac has been an amazing supporter of the Wild Image Project and their products have been an important part of my life. When I am on the water kayaking I need to protect my camera, but I also need a case that allows me freedom and quick access. The SLR case does just that. The new Wet & Dry Backpack is my daily bag. In fact I worked on it with Andy, the designer, sending him feedback on early prototypes. I am really happy with the result.

Aquapac: You had some photo exhibitions through June and July. How did they go, and do you plan more?

Daniel: They went really well, considering that I'm a newcomer. A lot of people braved the weather in New York. Then there was the Portland show, presented by Wend magazine (I am a Wend Ambassador). My printer pushdot studio did an amazing job and I am so happy to be working with them. Finally, at the Outdoor Retailer tradeshow in Salt Lake City, the great guys from Aquapac transformed their booth into a "Wild Image Project Lounge", where 10 of my photographs were exhibited. Then five of the photos were part of the big Aquapac raffle. I can tell you that the winners where really happy! Following on from all that I plan a solo show at the Argentinean Consulate in New York in October 2010, and the curator of General Electric's art collection wants to show my work at the company's headquarters in Connecticut.

Aquapac: That all sounds fantastic. Where else has your photography appeared?

Daniel: My work has appeared so far in Wend magazine, on Planet Green website, Treehugger, French Morning website and a series of online blogs and sports magazines. There is also a book in the works. I don't know if I will be able to publish it before I depart again. It would be great if I could. But if not, then it will be for when I come back.

Aquapac: You certainly seem a glass-half-full sort of guy. What was the happiest moment of your travelling career?

Daniel: I have many happy moments! And they are all equal. They generally involved feeling the divine force at work when I am immersed in nature. I am not a religious person, but I am extremely spiritual. And when I am out there, in the wild, with wild animals so close, I realize that there is no 'them and us', but that we are all together in the same place, all trying to survive and all trying to make sense of the world that surrounds us.

Aquapac: And to counter those great moments, we have to ask you about the worst...

Daniel: There was a moment on the last kayak trip where I got caught in 50mph winds. Those moments are often a quick series of miniscule events and suddenly you find yourself in a place where you shouldn't be. The episode lasted perhaps 20 minutes, but it was one those moments where one wrong move could have started a domino effect ending in disaster. Fortunately, I was able to control the situation and managed to get back to shore. The people I was kayaking with had lost sight of me. Needless to say, they were extremely relieved when they saw me pulling onto the beach.

Aquapac: Do you listen to music when you're kayaking or travelling? What are your favourite sounds?

Daniel: Music is extremely important to me, and I always have my iPod when I am travelling. Music is so powerful, it can transform the most stressful situation into a meditative moment. As for the kind of music - it varies. It depends of the moment, the place, the mood. It goes from pop to rock, from classical to chill. Have a look at my videos on my website, and you will understand how music complements my work. When I'm in natural surroundings I don't listen to music. The world has its own soundtrack here - the sound of the birds, the trees, the wind... Our memories often process sounds better than images. I remember my first day diving like it was yesterday. I was amazed at the incredible sounds. I could even hear the fish feeding on the coral. What I thought would be a deep silence was instead a grand concerto.