Snow Day Snowball Fight | For Reuters

Total insanity does not even begin to describe the madness that this event had in store for attendees and photographers alike. A parking lot, fenced off and filled with nearly 6,000 (probably drunk) people hurling frozen iceballs, served as a recent assignment for Reuters. While it was not the family-friendly winter wonderland I was expecting, I had a good time making pictures. Enjoy, knowing that I am still a bit bruised...

A field of 5,834 attendees launched handfuls of snow in unison to officially break the existing Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)

Brad Bambusch, right, cocks back to hurtle a powdery projectile during an official attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The existing record was broken. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)

Groups of attendees took to their recently built snow forts for cover during an official attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The existing record was successfully broken. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)

Groups of attendees took to their recently built snow forts for cover during an official attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The existing record was successfully broken. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)

Heather Hughes, center, puts the finishing touches on her team's snow fort preceding an official attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)

Paul Hines puts the finishing touches on his team's snow fort - modeled after the Seattle Seahawks' CenturyLink Stadium - preceding an official attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)

Joanna Wheeler, in green, was joined by her friends for a picture as she hoisted a Seattle Seahawks umbrella preceding an official attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)

One attendee blocks a snowball from another participant during an official attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The record was broken. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)

Wearing a husky hat, Hannah Houlihan, 27, center, sends a text to a friend preceding an official attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)

A plaque is presented to a crowd of 5,834 attendees after breaking a Guinness Book of World Records attempt for the world's largest snowball fight in Seattle January 12, 2013. The snowball fight was held as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.  REUTERS/Jordan Stead  (UNITED STATES)