From crowd surfing to the surreal, our photos from Iceland's biggest music festival

Since the proliferation of music festivals means you have your pick of locations, choosing wisely can make the difference between a good and an epic time. To make sure the steep ticket prices and airfare is worth it, an appealing setting along with an exceptional line-up and the unparalleled parties that follow pretty much guarantees fun. One that continuously stays a cut above the rest is Airwaves, Iceland's premiere music celebration that we decided to check out again after witnessing the insanity of the four-day event last year.

For 2010's edition, we asked London-based photographer Craig Thomas to capture some of the Reykjavik flavor that makes this festival so remarkable. The upshot takes a look at the local youth culture, the liberally-minded city itself and of course, the music and venues that are the foundation of the whole scene.

Check out more of Thomas' surreal photos and his personal commentary in the gallery below.

• Photographer Jói Kjartans trying out his hood for the first time

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal10-thumb-autox450-24024.jpg

• Give someone booze and heavy machinery and it doesn't matter what country you're in

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal11-thumb-autox450-24025.jpg

• Icelandic street art

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal12-thumb-autox450-24026.jpg

• Rosa's (from Feldberg) amazing hat

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal13-thumb-autox450-24027.jpg

• Waiting with designer Hildur Hermanns in a bank

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal14-thumb-autox450-24028.jpg

• The Grey Cat for the best-cooked breakfast

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal15-thumb-autox450-24029.jpg

• Einar, lead guitarist of Feldberg at the Arts Museum

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal16-thumb-autox450-24030.jpg

• Alex Metric going nuts

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal9-thumb-autox450-24023.jpg

• Feldberg at the Arts Museum

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal3-thumb-autox450-24017.jpg

• A sign

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal4-thumb-autox450-24018.jpg

• Swedish musician from The Amplifetes

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal5-thumb-autox450-24019.jpg

• Fashion Designer Mundi displaying the Airwaves 2010 poster

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal6-thumb-autox450-24020.jpg

• Green is good

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal7-thumb-autox450-24021.jpg

• Statistically, there are more bands than families in Iceland

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal8-thumb-autox450-24022.jpg

• Just going out to walk the dogs

  http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2010/10/airwaves2010-gal2-thumb-autox450-24016.jpg