Can a Premier League Footballer Beat a Pro Photographer? Merlin Rohl vs Expired Film Club

BBC Football

Merlin Rohl takes on Expired Film Club in a one-roll film photography challenge

Photographer Miles challenges Everton footballer Merlin Rohl to shoot one roll of film around Liverpool. Along the way they discuss Merlin's photography, his football background and his mindset on the pitch; after finishing, Merlin says he is confident in his shots but does not claim to have beaten Miles.

Miles from Expired Film Club takes Everton midfielder Merlin Rohl on a photographic journey through Liverpool. As they explore the city and Everton’s new home at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the pair discuss Merlin’s passion for photography as well as the experiences that have shaped both his football and creative careers. The challenge is simple: one roll of film each. Across five locations, Miles and Merlin must each capture a single photograph, with viewers deciding whose shot comes out on top. With only 36 exposures and no second chances, every frame counts in The One 'Rohl' Challenge. Follow more on the BBC Sport app, iPlayer and Sounds. ============= Find us here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BBCMOTD X: https://x.com/BBCMOTD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcfootball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bbcsport bbcfootball

Transcript

I'm worried you're going to beat me in this photo competition. >> Another vlog competition. [laughter] I know, yeah. It's about being >> It is, yeah. >> It's a very nice, lively city. >> Oh my god, I knew it. >> What's happening in love? >> [music] >> I'm Miles. I'm known as Expired Film Club online, and I travel the world with my film cameras capturing some of the biggest moments in sport. Today, I'm meeting Everton footballer Merlyn Rolle. He's got a real passion for film photography, too, and so I've decided to set him a challenge to put his skills to the test. Merlyn. >> Miles, nice to meet you, bro. How's things? >> We've got a bit of a challenge on our hands today. We're dubbing it the one roll challenge, and the idea is we're going to walk around Liverpool >> Mhm. >> and shoot one roll each >> Mhm. >> and >> [music] >> see what sort of results we both get. >> It's quite interesting to get a challenge. I'm feeling the pressure. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, definitely. >> Me, too. Normally, I only feel them in in football, but today also >> [laughter] >> It's a different sort of pressure. I might start off now and get some of the some of the stadium here. How'd you get into photography in the first place? >> I was injured, a little bit bored, I would say. >> Yeah. >> My first camera was actually digital. >> And then you wanted to try the real thing. >> I wanted to try the real thing. Try the real thing, and since then never never go back to digital. >> Do you have a particular style or approach you like to go for? >> I'm still trying to find like exactly what my style is. >> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. >> Yeah, how's it going? >> So, Merlyn, tell me what you're using today. >> Today, I'm using the Leica M6. >> Uh-huh. >> I just stumbled across it, and I used it like for 1 week, and after that I was like, >> Yeah, I know. I know. I've heard that. It's the Leica effect. >> It's the Leica effect. >> Once you use it, you never [laughter] go back. >> it's a lot about aesthetic when you look at the camera. It's just for me. >> This is my favorite camera to use. This is a Canon 1 from the '70s. It's a bit beefy though. Like that's nice for street photography because it's pretty easy to carry around. This one I was I use a lot for sports. We're at location two. We're at Everton Brow, which apparently gives us the best view of the city. >> Yeah. >> Um also I think the turrets that is here [music] is the one that's on the Everton badge. >> Exactly. >> So um excited to see what we can get here. Should we jump out and get some more photos? >> Yeah. >> I was interested about your start to your football career. You signed to a club on a trial because you submitted some stats to them via this app. Is that Is that true? >> That's true. That's true. >> How did How did that come about? >> Yeah, just an opportunity. There was like an app I used and put on some wrong numbers. Mixed it a little bit up. Yeah, put on some 10-15 assists, but maybe I only made like three. >> [laughter] >> But it helped me. It helped me. >> Yeah, well yeah for sure. And then so that's how you got your first trial was it? >> Got my first trial and then of course you need to play good. >> Rest is history. >> Yeah, no I'm in the Premier League. Shooting photos with you and >> [laughter] >> enjoying my dream. >> Exactly. >> I love to photograph trees. >> What about trees is it that draws you to them? >> I just read in a book that when you are at the ground and you look up to the tree it kind of like slows down your ego. >> Uh-huh. >> And as a footballer you get quite an ego. So I always [laughter] think okay, it's going to help me to slow down my ego. >> So your photo book's coming out, which looks amazing. Um are there any photos in there that you're particularly proud of or have like an interesting story behind? >> The The cover's maybe one of the most special photos for me. And it was exactly like that. >> So was that from the team bus then? Is that where that photo is from? >> Right from the team bus. >> Really? And then cuz it looks like it's kind of foggy. Are there Are there like >> Yeah. >> players going off? >> Yeah, a lot of like blue smoke. They were so loud and so close. So much passion from the fans. >> Yeah. >> And I was never thinking about the picture. I was always thinking about the memory I had of like how it felt. >> Yeah. >> But then I got the picture and I was like >> Perfect. >> That's amazing. >> [music] >> So there's a section in the book called On the Move. So this is obviously as you're traveling with the squad to games and things, right? >> exactly. [music] Yeah. So we as a team we're traveling a lot and I try to capture everything just how it is. >> This is really nice of Jordan. >> we we got Jordan there. Um >> He must be a character to photograph. [laughter] >> He's a character to photograph. It's like one of my favorite photos. >> You got point and shoot sometimes that you give to the players. >> Yeah. >> Have any of them shown a a bit of prowess with the camera? Anyone take any good photos of them? >> I think Michael Keane has been the best one. He's also very kind um because he wants me to get in the photo. So I think he would be the one I would trust with my camera, even the M6 on Sunday. >> Well, he's the captain as well, isn't he? So is he the captain or is Jordan Pickford the captain? >> Um James Tarkowski is the captain. >> Tarkowski is the captain, in which case we can cut that. >> [laughter] >> So we're driving towards Liverpool city center now. >> It's a >> [music] >> very nice, lively city. The one saying I learned here, nice one, mate. >> [laughter] >> Nice nice one. That's goes a way of saying sound. Sound lad. Sound lad. What's happening, lad? >> [laughter] >> So off to the Pier Head. [music] >> I think we we can find some good photos there. >> I'm I'm sure we can. Yeah, yeah, we got some good stuff. How many photos have you got left on your roll, by the way? I'm about like halfway through mine, I guess, by now. >> Yeah, I think >> Need to get shooting some more. I'm worried you're going to beat me in this photo competition today. >> [laughter] >> It's another competition. I know, yeah, it's about beating you. >> It is, yeah. It's a very, very serious competition we've got going. >> Of course. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Just want to get the ball. >> Being a photographer and a footballer. Are you ever aware when you're on the pitch of the cameras and are you thinking about what the photographer is doing or are you just focused completely on the game? >> Completely on the game. >> Yeah. >> As soon as there is the ball I forget everything. I'm just like completely in the zone. Forget the fans, the atmosphere. Forget like problems that I had 2 days ago or something very nice 2 days ago. So I always forget if the game is bad and we're really like frustrated. If if if the game is really good I'm always happy in that moment. Just like running and having a ball that's just like going somewhere. It's one of the most beautiful things ever for me. >> [music] >> It sounds so >> It's It's beefy, isn't it? >> [laughter] >> It's nice spot this, isn't it? >> Just do what you want and I will just move around. >> Show me your best tricks. >> [laughter] >> Thanks, mate. Hopefully I don't scare them off today with like too many cameras. >> [music] >> Should we move on to the last place, which is the Hill Dickinson Stadium? >> Oh, great. I'm excited. >> Your home stadium. Let's go. So this is home. Wow, it's massive. Your position's kind of changed, right? This season you're playing at right back. >> a lot rather than in midfield. How have you found adapting to that? Is it a position that you've played before? >> Uh not really. Just Just a little bit, but I think my physical attributes kind of help like this position profile. So that's why maybe it's a really really good change for me in the future. >> I mean you're filling uh Seamus Coleman's boots, I suppose, aren't you after a long time. >> I'm trying not to think about it. >> [laughter] >> I'm still missing him. He's so great. >> How many shots have you got left? One left. Okay, we're going to have to make this count then, aren't we? I'll tell you what, I'll take a photo of you. >> I know. >> Then you take a photo of me and that could be the last the last one of the roll. That sound good? >> and that sounds good. >> Okay. Here we go. One, two, three. Okay. That was the last shot. >> Okay. Thank you. >> There you go. Right, Merlin. We've done it. The rolls are done. How you feeling? You backing yourself on the on the one roll challenge? >> Um I think I'm quite confident in my photos, but it doesn't mean that they're better than your photos. >> It's been a lot of fun. Thank you, bro. >> Thank you. >> Good to work with you. Good. I'll come and see the photos. There it is. The one roll challenge.