I have always respected photographers for their skills and find that as technology progresses the "real" photographers are being pushed to find new and interesting reasons for producing an image. Most previous art students can tell you the first photograph was taken in 1826, by French scientist Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. Titled View from the Window at Le Gras, the image produced encompasses a courtyard and its surrounding buildings.
I live in New York City so facades always find my attention; I can see why Niépce chose it to be his first subject matter. Although I refuse to call myself a photographer, do to my lack of intention behind taking an image, I enjoy exploring my environment and looking for patterns or compositions that might have some rhyme or reason.