Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a magnificent place. But on my last visit I found the ever-changing restrictions SO frustrating that instead of experiencing the sense of reverence I'd felt on previous visits, I just drove around with a heavy heart, and left earlier than planned. As a photographer my skill is to interpret my subjects, not just snap pictures. The so-called "Ulurules" have taken away all photographers abilities to create images with their own personal style.

As for the commercial nature of photography at these places... I find it most frustrating that people who flaunt the rules and sell images of Uluru without permits are unfairly benefiting from my (and others) compliance, as there seems to be no policing of the regulations (how could you?) after the images are taken. Effectively many clients won't wait the period of time required to have a usage approved, so instead of buying from legitimate sources, they go to a provider somewhere else in the World that doesn't get the use checked, and probably doesn't even know the rules exist. In effect doing the right thing restricts my trade.

And then as a further insult, I see TV promotions for the last Winter Olympics featuring TV 'personalities' skiing down a snow-covered Uluru. Now that is disrespectful. But I'm not allowed to use my creative skills to produce an image that puts Uluru into its real context of the surrounding desert landscape... except from prescribed places that are totally inappropriate to photograph from.