If I use get_users to return only the 'authors' by using the following code:
$user_options = array(
'orderby' => 'display_name',
'order' => 'ASC',
'role' => 'author',
'who' => 'authors'
);
$all_authors = get_users($users_options);
foreach ($all_authors as $author) {
if ($author->ID > 1) {
/* do something */
}
}
I get back all users but admin, that is, also subscribers.