Photographic material and method for forming an image

A method for forming an image, which comprises processing with a developer having a pH value of 9 to 12 and comprising 0.2 mol/liter or more of a sulfite, an imagewise exposed silver halide photographic material comprising a compound represented by formula (I):

• ##STR21## wherein ED represents a group which undergoes a reaction with an oxidation product of a developing agent to release (Time).sub.t -(Link).sub.s -Het;
• Time represents a divalent group which releases (Link).sub.s -Het after being released from ED;
• Link represents a divalent group containing at least one hetero atom, and the Link is connected to ED-(Time).sub.t via one of the hetero atoms;
• t and s each represents an integer of 0 or 1;
• and Het represents a group represented by formula (II):
• ##STR22## wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a monovalent group;
• and Z represents an atomic group required to form a 5- to 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, with the proviso that when the group represented by formula (II) is a nitroindazolyl group-containing compound, it is a 4-nitroindazolyl group-containing compound.