A method for forming a high contrast negative image comprising the steps of:(a) imagewise exposing a silver halide photographic material comprising a support having thereon at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, said emulsion layer or other hydrophilic colloid layer containing at least one hydrazine derivative; and(b) developing said exposed silver halide photographic material in an developer solution containing:(1) a dihydroxybenzene developing agent;(2) at least one auxiliary developing agent selected from a 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone auxiliary developing agent and a p-aminophenol auxiliary developing agent;(3) at least 0.3 mol per liter of a sulfite; and(4) at least one compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein Y represents a group capable of adsorbing to silver halide; A represents a divalent linking group; B represents an amino group, an ammonium group or a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group; m is 1, 2 or 3; and n is 0 or 1; to form a high contrast negative image.