"I am not a photographer, I am not an artist, I am just a man watching the world change," Anuchit Sundarakiti once said of himself on his Facebook page.
Anuchit and his wife Prasanee died in a blaze at their attached houses in soi Taksin 11 in Bangkok's Thonburi district on Saturday, along with 73 of the 92 cats the pair were taking care of.
His followers, admirers and photo enthusiasts were saddened by the loss and continue to send condolence messages to his social media address.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said on Saturday Anuchit, 62, and his wife, 55, probably died from smoke inhalation, possibly due to a short circuit. The exact cause of their deaths and the fire are still under investigation.
"Wish you, your wife and the cats a place in heaven," said one person using the name Naris Sra.
"Thank you for the kindness you showed me. I'm so proud to have had the chance to do a painting of a lotus photographed by you," Api Apirada said. (continues below)
Other messages also wished him, his family and their cats a place in heaven after learning of the sudden tragedy. His latest Facebook post was as recent as Friday, promoting a black-and-white photographs session.
Anuchit’s “fine art photographs” are nationally and internationally recognised. His photos reflecting people's lives, especially those in black and white, are among his signature images.
His image of a woman collecting trash among people mourning the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great was among nine selected from 50,000 submitted photos by the Culture Ministry in 2016 as reflecting the good works carried out by ordinary people but usually unheralded. (continues below)
His photographers were also in National Geographic Travel and his Lost Train shot at Hua Lamphong was selected as one of the weekly best by 500px, a global online community of photographers.
In fact, Hua Lamphong was one of his favourite locations for taking photos because it is a place where people and trains meet . "Trains represent evolution in society," he said in a ThaiDphoto YouTube programme in 2016.
He had a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education (Architecture), but it was not known which university he studied at.
Anuchit had one big tip for struggling photographers - success starts with passion and determination, and those two traits must be reflected in their photographs, he told the ThaiDphoto programme.
