He started pre-school (kindergarten) at the branch school of Dara Academy on the east side of Nawarat Bridge (or the present Chiang Mai First Church, 1 Charoenraj Rd., Tambon Watket,) in 1935.
In 1936 Boonserm moved on for his first year in primary school (Prathom 1) at The Prince Royal’s College because the branch of Dara Academy was an all-girls school. He studied at The Prince Royal’s until WW II broke out in 1941 when he was in Mattayom 2. The school and other schools were taken over by the government because it was run by American missionaries who at the time was considered rivals of Thailand. The government took over the so called enemy’s property and built a military camp inside the school. Then, when the new semester of 1942 began, he was transferred to Yupparaj Wittayalai School. In 1945 the war situation got worse so the government had to close all schools again, until the middle of that year when the war ended.
Boonserm Satrabhaya started his career at his sister’s fertilizer store on Ton Lam Yai Market which was Chiang Mai’s first market.
His photo-taking skill started at the stored along with being a fertilizer sales person. His brother-in-law, Dr. Uthai Sandhinandana, a well known photographer was the one who taught and guided him in this science. With love and ambition, Boonserm would take every chance he got to go out taking pictures of historical sites. He often followed his brother-in-law, who was head of the Northern Malaria Control Unit, from place to place. His brother-in-law had to go on duty for malaria elimination work and had Boonserm take pictures of the field operation of the staff. Those pictures were presented world wide in order to show how serious the Thai Government was in controlling malaria under the projects funded by the United Nations.
The work then helped him improve his skills and opened the door to getting acquainted with many journalists in Chiang Mai. The press at the time did not have their own photographers due to the expensive cost of equipment. When big events happened the newspapers would ask Boonserm to take photos for them. His favorite picture of the time was from the event of the Ko Min Tang 93rd division returning to Taiwan in 1953 and the photos of the border patrol police and paratroops ambushing the Tai Yai opium production at Ban Pang Maeo Pang Pa Kha behind Doi Pui on top of Doi Suthep, that same year.
Another master piece was his being the only photographer from Chiang Mai who was granted the opportunity to take pictures of the 1958 visit to the north of His Majesty the King beginning from Phitsanulok. He got a chance to take both films and photos in Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai, Sawankhalok, Tak, Thoen, Li, Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Sai, Phayao, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, and Uttaradit where His Majesty finally departed to return to Bankok.
In 1960, he got a position as a journalist at Khon Mueang Newspaper. Boonserm was responsible for writing about the yellow leaf ethnics or the Mlabri in which he received the First Prize for documentary writing in 1962. In fact, he was the first and only northern journalist to have received this prize. The writing was about the exploration trip to the Mlabri tribe in Nan in 1962 along with a group of explorers from the Siam Society Under the Royal Patronage.
During his work with the Khon Mueang Newspaper, he joined the Foundation for Voluntary Medical Services of the Princess Mother (Pho O So Wo) going out to treat the hilltribe people and people in the rural areas that could hardly be reached by any transportation means.
He was with Khon Mueang Newspaper for 10 years and with Chiang Mai News for another 10 years before totally leaving his journalistic career in 1982.
Since his work as a fertilizer salesman to journalist and freelancer, the collections of the past Lanna photography has endlessly accumulated from one photo to more photos. It was part of his work and also his love and enthusiasm in taking each one of them.
Now, his collection of film had increased to 3,000 rolls and a number of 8-16 mm. films. Part of his collection is kept at the National Archives, Bangkok.
These photos portray the development of Chiang Mai during the past 70 years with some scenes of places before the excavation like those of Wat Jed Yod and the collaped city walls.
Then came the time when Chiang Mai was included in the 1st to the 3rd National Economic Plan (1961-66) which had the goal to expand and decentralize the development plan from the central to regional cities of the north, east and south. Chiang Mai was selected to be the center of the plan of the development in the northern region which made it qualified for development in various aspects of that period. And of course, almost every step of the transformation was recorded by Mr. Boonserm.
For example, the development of communication means with new roads being built and bridges improved along with the fixing of city walls and the economic growth in terms of trade.
Furthermore, his photos reflect the way of life of the people and the ethnic diversity with people from all nationalities and beliefs, including their moods as well as their feelings in different events and incidents.
