If you’ve driven on State Route 3 north of Poulsbo, chances are you’ve seen the castle — that odd structure rising out of the cow pastures on the east side of the highway, complete with crenelated tower and steeply pitched twin peaks. All it needs is a knight in shining armor.

Seems that in the 1950s, owner No. 2, an Irish transplant, felt that every Irishman should have a castle, and set about turning the modest farmhouse into his very own fiefdom.

The farm changed hands again several decades later, but the castle theme remained. An adjacent barn has gone through several incarnations, from chicken coop to antique store, private residence, furniture shop and recording studio.

For a time the farm became the compound for Seattle-based indie rock group Pedro the Lion, which recorded in the studio while group founder Dave Bazan lived in the house with his family.

When photographer Jared Hankins decided to start a gallery in the barn, the name was a natural.

Castle House Gallery will open March 3, featuring the photographic work of Hankins.

Hankins got to know the Castle House through his work as a sound engineer for Pedro the Lion and other groups. They moved on, but he stayed.

His photo exhibit is called “Of Landscapes and Man,” with many of the photos taken while he was on tour with Pedro the Lion and singer John Vanderslice.

There are scenes of landscapes and people from across the United States and Europe.

“I just started capturing moments on the tour,” he said. Backpacking, both in the states and Ireland, was another inspiration.

“I started shooting like crazy,” he said.

The “man” aspect, he explained, comes from capturing people in their element, doing what they enjoy.

Hankins has a degree in sound engineering from Berklee College in Boston and said that sound engineering and photography are his “first two loves.”

While most photographers — amateur and professional — have gone digital, Hankins has resisted the riptide of change. He shoots with a manual 35 mm camera saying, “I like ‘old school’ in almost everything.”

That makes the rustic barn a very appropriate setting for his work. The varnished, wide plank pine floor is original, while a huge set of double doors was imported from Ireland, purchased by the property owner Ben Brubaker.

The tall walls are finished a smooth white, the perfect backdrop for Hankins’ large work.

His photos have been printed and mounted by New York print maker Ken Lieberman, who does work for nature photographer Art Wolfe, as well as a range of professional photographers, galleries and museums.

Lieberman suggested that Hankins go with a “less is more” approach to his debut showing, so Hankins will have to choose from among nearly 20 large prints to hang.

Most of the photos are in the 3-feet by 4-feet range, with a few panoramas in the mix. The effect should be striking.

“I’ve been really encouraged to do this by friends and various other people,” Hankins said.

Castle House Gallery will have a soft opening March 3, with an artist’s reception the following day, 6-8 p.m. March 4. The gallery is located at 23552 SR 3 NW. You can’t miss it.

The gallery will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2-6 p.m. Sundays and other times by appointment. wu