Thanaboon Somboon recently published a book called 108 Punna: Faces of the Future, a charity project on which he collaborated with Mark Thanop Eiamamornpan, a socialite and local brand manager for Harry Winston watches.

"The project started from me having a drink with Mark one evening. We then made it become reality by using all our connections in asking for people's help, such as stylists, photographic assistants, sponsors and so on."

The 36-year-old, nicknamed Ace, is a professional photographer who left his full-time job because he wanted to do something new.

"There were many new projects and exhibitions that I wanted to do, but they all required free time."

108 Puna is a compilation of 108 portraits of children from the Wat Sakaew Foundation in Ang Thong, taken to reflect their dreams of what they want to be when they grow up. The project was completed with the help of volunteers from all walks of life. All proceeds from the project will go to fund Wat Sakaew School's new library, and all the photos were done by Mr Thanaboon.

"I practically slept at the printers for five days during the entire proofing process. It makes me happy to see the children's smiles, and to be able to give something back to society."

Portraiture has long been Mr Thanaboon's passion. "I can't think of any other artistic medium which is able to capture a person's unique character so well. Through a photographic portrait, the subject is able to send an unspoken message to the viewer. A good portrait enables you to feel the mood of the subject, and even guess at their dreams and aspirations."

On March 13, Mr Thanaboon will be one of 12 selected artists invited by the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (at the Emporium) to give a 10-minute lecture on the success of his 108 Punna project. The criterion for choosing the artists was how well their creative ideas have been successfully implemented and carried through into production. One of last year's lecturers was Pod, from indie band Modern Dog.

Mr Thanaboon received his bachelor's degree in computer science from Thammasat University. "I was born in an era when parents wanted their children to be doctors or engineers, but I've always liked photography. After I graduated, I worked in front of a computer all day as a computer engineer. I was not a happy person."

When Mr Thanaboon left Thailand to study for his master's degree in fashion and advertising photography at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, he did not tell his parents that he went to study photography. His parents thought he went to study computer graphics, and thought it would be alright as long as it was in the computer field.

"I told them the truth three months before graduation. They were shocked. They worried whether I could make a living. They didn't understand the scope of photographic work, which includes commercial things such as magazines, fashion and advertising - and isn't limited to taking pictures at events such as weddings and graduation ceremonies."

But Mr Thanaboon was ecstatic about his schoolwork. "I studied. I did my homework. When I had free time, I always went out to take pictures."

He also found that taking portraits was what he was best at. "I was able to bring out the personality of my subject. I like taking pictures of people, of things that are alive."

Mr Thanaboon spent four years in San Francisco gaining experience as a studio manager and in-house photographer, and also as a freelance photographer before returning home. It was not an easy job.

"In taking pictures, I have to tell the models the direction of how I want the mood and tone to be. I have to know exactly when to press the shutter in order to get the mood I want from my subjects. I have to tell them the concept, the theme, create a story. It's like acting."

After Mr Thanaboon graduated, he came back to Thailand with a thick portfolio. He had no connections, so he bought all the fashion magazines he could find and called all the editors for job interviews.

"I remember there were 20 to 30 on my list. When I first came back, I didn't dare drive in Bangkok as yet, so I had quite a fun time taking taxis or buses to meet with all those magazines."

Mr Thanaboon started as a freelance photographer for the magazine Image, which paved the way to working for other magazines, and helped build his reputation and career.

"In the first three months, I got to do 10 cover shoots," he says.

Mr Thanaboon's images are known to be strong, sharp and beautiful. He explains his work, "I pay attention to what other people are doing, and I get inspired by what other people are doing, but when it comes to my own shooting, I follow my instincts."

The emphasis on the model's expression is a key to generating tremendous impact, allowing viewers to feel the "genuine" mood Mr Thanaboon aims get across in his pictures.

After freelancing for six months, Mr Thanaboon was recruited as a photography director for a major publishing company that produces the magazines Arena, FHM, Stuff, Car, Casaviva, Ray, Cawaii and Zoo. After five years, he left to concentrate on a series of personal projects.

Mr Thanaboon is now a business consultant to Big Camera, creative director at the Party4Charity Foundation and is creative and photography director at his own company, Ace Image.

Mr Thanaboon's latest project is Foto Boot Camp, which offers intensive learning and a workshop in photography.

"It's a new concept here, and will be held every quarter. The students will, let's say, go to the forest and live in a camp so that they get to stay in the field, in an actual location. They'll learn the feeling, the amount of light required, the actual problems needing to be solved."

By the end of the year, this creative soul with a knack for fashion also plans to establish his own fashion line of clothes and accessories for photography lovers.

"I want to offer fashionable products for photographers or those who love photographic products, where function meets fashion. For instance, I want to offer a really trendy photographer's waistcoat, and not the usual mundane type that you see on the market. There'll be bags, T-shirts, jackets, caps and other accessories.

"I'm not the best, but I try to do my best in everything."