LAST year's Black Saturday bushfires claimed the lives of 173 people.

Flowerdale farmer, Norm Berndt, is one of the survivors.

The 81-year-old is also one of 40 Murrindindi Shire bushfire survivors taking part in a photography exhibition, Beyond Age.

The exhibition will tell the personal stories of older bushfire survivors through portraits taken by Victorian photographers.

The exhibition will be held at locations throughout the shire in coming weeks.