By Rebecca Henely
When Astoria resident Katherine Kostreva takes pictures of shirtless firefighters in New York City and the rest of country for her self-published calendars, she is doing it to say thanks.
“I was in a car accident when I was 16 and broke both my legs and my arms. Firefighters extricated me from the wreckage and saved my legs,” Kostreva said in an e-mail. “I vowed with each step I take, I would give back to these brave individuals.”
From 2009-11, Kostreva, who has lived in Astoria for the last five years, has taken photos of well-toned city firefighters and published them in a “City of the Brave: Firefighters of NYC” calendar, which she prints herself through her company, On Point Publishing. The calendar raises money for the Elsasser Fund, which helps the families of firefighters who die outside the line of duty.
This year she is taking the project national with a calendar for 2012 called “Nation’s Bravest: Firefighters Unite,” which will be published in August. Kostreva has taken photos of firefighters showing off their chests as well as their special skills in Philadelphia, St. Louis and San Antonio.
“These firefighters are brave and love what they do, preferring no other profession,” Kostreva said. “And each comes with a killer smile and personality.”
Kostreva chooses the calendars through sending out memos to fire departments and firefighter unions. Firefighters who are interested in being a Mr. July or Mr. November, although right now the models are nicknamed after their city, must answer a sheet of questions such as “Why did you become a firefighter?” and “Why should you be selected to represent your city?”
After speaking with the firefighters over the phone, Kostreva makes a selection based on physique, but also personality and what one does when he’s not a firefighter, such as volunteer work and other hobbies.
Kostreva describes the shoots, which are also attended by a videographer, as “spontaneous” and “relaxed.”
“We all meet during the morning, get to know each other … then we go to various landmarks across the city,” she said. “We also find a fun spot to interview the firefighter for inclusion in the video and shoot.”
A video for the calendar’s “Mr. New York,” 27-year-old Phil Silvester of Brooklyn, shows the firefighter walking around the city, jogging, jumping rope and tossing around a rugby ball.
For the national calendar, Kostreva is also working with Travelocity on an online travel website where fans of the calendar can vote on their favorite firefighter. At the end of the year, the one with the most votes will be dubbed “The Nation’s Bravest.”
Kostreva said family members of the firefighters love the calendar.
“They fully support them and are proud that they participate in the name of charity,” she said.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
Editor's note: Corrected national calendar partner and the job of Kostreva's companion.
