The obvious subject of this photo is well within the realm of being a cliché: "Lone tree positioned approximately 1/3 of the way from the edge of the photo, level horizon, with plenty of puffy white clouds overhead." There's nothing unique or unusual about this image in that regard.

Of course, sometimes photos aren't really about the obvious subject or even the composition - sometimes they're about the subtle character of the light, and the recognition by the viewer that they've experienced the feeling of being bathed in that particular type of light at one time or another. That's really what this image is about. If you've lived in Northern California for any length of time, and you've experienced a particular intensity of late morning light that only happens out in vast open spaces during the height (and heat) of summer, you may recognize the light in this photo.