This invention relates to a photographic element comprising a support and at least two silver halide emulsion layers wherein at least one emulsion layer contains an electron transfer agent releasing compound represented by the formula:CAR--(L).sub.n --ETAwherein:CAR is a carrier moiety which is capable of releasing --(L)n--ETA on reaction with oxidized developing agent;L is a divalent linking group, n is 0, 1 or 2; andETA is a releasable 1-aryl-3-pyrazolidinone electron transfer agent having a calculated log partition coefficient (c log P) greater than or equal to 2.40 bonded to L or CAR through either the nitrogen atom in the 2-position or the oxygen attached to the 3-position of the pyrazolidinone ring; and at least one soluble mercaptan releasing compound.