London-based photographer Alina Negoita has been documenting young Romanian gymnasts in her native town Ploiesti for over a year and a half. Her project Birds in Space, taking its name from a 1923 sculpture by Constantin Brancusi, is an ode to both their strength and fragility, and incredible talent. “The series draws inspiration from Brancusi’s artistic philosophy and his modern sculpture featuring birds, and is associated with the delicacy, grace and perfection of Romanian gymnasts, paying tribute to legends such as Nadia Comaneci,” Negoita explains. “With the homage to Brancusi as the starting point, the project developed further by drawing on elements such as identity, movement and performance.” Starting as a distant observer, Negoita was able to get closer to her subjects over time and produce a unique snapshot of the young gymnasts in training — their routines, their delicate beauty and high hopes. “It was a personal lesson of strength, talent, hard work and drive,” she adds.