In 1980, the last of the five sessions Duffy shot with Bowie over nine years was taken for the Scary Monsters & Super Creeps album. The Pierrot costume was designed by Natasha Korniloff, with Bowie requesting that she make him ‘The Most Beautiful clown in the circus.’
This outfit and makeup were also worn in the 'Ashes to Ashes' music video released in 1980. Images from the shoot featured all three cover versions of the 7" single.
By 1980, Duffy was winding down his photographic career. His studio was no longer filled with cameras, lights and famous faces of the era. It was replaced with tools for his new venture - antique furniture restoration. Without a studio or assistant, Duffy turned to his son Chris for a venue to shoot David Bowie, the only person who could persuade him to get back behind the lens. Bowie began to pose as the perfect pierrot throughout the session, distressing his look until he was reduced to a dishevelled, smeared, smoking clown. Much like the Lodger shoot a little over a year before, Bowie had employed Duffy as the photographer in collaboration with a graphic artist, a position filled this time by Edward Bell, whom Duffy had previously introduced to Bowie. After the shoot, Duffy took his chosen image to Edward Bell to add his graphic contribution. Fully expecting Edward Bell to paint directly onto his print, Duffy's image was almost entirely obscured by Bell's painting. Although David loved the cover, Duffy was deeply hurt that Bell had despoiled his photograph.
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