Silver halide photographic emulsion

A negative image forming process which comprises imagewise exposing to light a photographic light-sensitive material comprising a support having thereon at least one silver halide photographic emulsion layer comprising substantially surface latent image monodispersed silver chlorobromide or silver chlorobromoiodide grains containing up to about 7 mol% silver iodide, wherein the average grain size of said silver halide grains is about 0.7 micron or less and a hydrophilic binder in an amount of about 250 g of less per mol of silver halide, wherein said silver halide photographic emulsion layer or at least one other hydrophilic colloid layer on said support contains a compound represented by the general formula (I):

• r.sup.1 nhnhcho (i)
• wherein R.sup.1 represents a phenyl group which may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more alkyl groups, aralkyl groups, alkoxy groups, amino groups, acylamino groups or aromatic acylamino groups, and developing said photographic light-sensitive material with a developing solution containing a developing agent and about 0.15 mol/liter or more of sulfite ion and having a pH of about 11.0 to about 12.3.