A method for the production of a silver image with improved contrast by the development of an image-wise exposed photographic silver halide emulsion layer material with a developer liquid containing a hydroquinone in the presence of an auxiliary developing agent, wherein said developer liquid is applied to said photographic material containing silver halide grains that have been chemically sensitized with organic thiosulphonic acid anions in combination with a gold sensitizer in the absence of thiosulphate ions.