Known for painting New York City buildings and streetscapes in a highly realistic style, Estes has recently turned to subjects from nature, often based on his travels to remote locations. Like his urban views, these landscapes convey complex spatial dynamics. In Antarctica, for example, the foreground and background both appear in sharp focus.

Along with several other American painters who emerged together in the 1970s, Estes paints in a style that mimics the precision and light effects of photography. This style, known as Photorealism or Hyperrealism, often focuses on mundane, commonplace subjects—the type of subjects documented by everyday people with point-and-shoot cameras.

In Antarctica—a view seen from a ship—the artist presents an ice-laden landmass and mountains that rise from the sea to meet lacy clouds overhead.