novel bicyclic pyrazolo couplers containing a fully substituted carbon at the 6 - position of the bicyclic structure and a ballast group of formula : ## str1 ## are useful in photographic materials and processes . the couplers exhibit increased coupling activity , and provide formation of dyes having improved maximum magenta image dye density , contrast , and photographic speed when employed in color photographic materials and processes . the variables are defined more specifically in the specification .