diff --git a/app/build.gradle.kts b/app/build.gradle.kts
index 7c9c599..b7bbc0a 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/app/build.gradle.kts
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ dependencies {
     implementation(libs.androidx.core.ktx)
     implementation(libs.androidx.lifecycle.runtime.ktx)
     implementation(libs.androidx.lifecycle.runtime.compose)
+    implementation(libs.androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.compose)
     implementation(libs.androidx.activity.compose)
 
     // Compose
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/no/naiv/tiltshift/ui/CameraViewModel.kt b/app/src/main/java/no/naiv/tiltshift/ui/CameraViewModel.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89b61b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/no/naiv/tiltshift/ui/CameraViewModel.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+package no.naiv.tiltshift.ui
+
+import android.app.Application
+import android.graphics.Bitmap
+import android.location.Location
+import android.net.Uri
+import android.util.Log
+import android.view.Surface
+import androidx.lifecycle.AndroidViewModel
+import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import no.naiv.tiltshift.camera.CameraManager
+import no.naiv.tiltshift.camera.ImageCaptureHandler
+import no.naiv.tiltshift.effect.BlurParameters
+import no.naiv.tiltshift.storage.PhotoSaver
+import no.naiv.tiltshift.storage.SaveResult
+import no.naiv.tiltshift.util.HapticFeedback
+import no.naiv.tiltshift.util.LocationProvider
+import no.naiv.tiltshift.util.OrientationDetector
+
+/**
+ * ViewModel for the camera screen.
+ * Survives configuration changes (rotation) and process death (via SavedStateHandle for primitives).
+ */
+class CameraViewModel(application: Application) : AndroidViewModel(application) {
+
+    companion object {
+        private const val TAG = "CameraViewModel"
+    }
+
+    val cameraManager = CameraManager(application)
+    val photoSaver = PhotoSaver(application)
+    val captureHandler = ImageCaptureHandler(application, photoSaver)
+    val haptics = HapticFeedback(application)
+    val orientationDetector = OrientationDetector(application)
+    val locationProvider = LocationProvider(application)
+
+    // Blur parameters — preserved across config changes
+    private val _blurParams = MutableStateFlow(BlurParameters.DEFAULT)
+    val blurParams: StateFlow<BlurParameters> = _blurParams.asStateFlow()
+
+    // Capture state
+    private val _isCapturing = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val isCapturing: StateFlow<Boolean> = _isCapturing.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _showSaveSuccess = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val showSaveSuccess: StateFlow<Boolean> = _showSaveSuccess.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _showSaveError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
+    val showSaveError: StateFlow<String?> = _showSaveError.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _showControls = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val showControls: StateFlow<Boolean> = _showControls.asStateFlow()
+
+    // Thumbnail state
+    private val _lastSavedUri = MutableStateFlow<Uri?>(null)
+    val lastSavedUri: StateFlow<Uri?> = _lastSavedUri.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _lastThumbnailBitmap = MutableStateFlow<Bitmap?>(null)
+    val lastThumbnailBitmap: StateFlow<Bitmap?> = _lastThumbnailBitmap.asStateFlow()
+
+    // Gallery preview state
+    private val _galleryBitmap = MutableStateFlow<Bitmap?>(null)
+    val galleryBitmap: StateFlow<Bitmap?> = _galleryBitmap.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _galleryImageUri = MutableStateFlow<Uri?>(null)
+    val galleryImageUri: StateFlow<Uri?> = _galleryImageUri.asStateFlow()
+
+    val isGalleryPreview: Boolean get() = _galleryBitmap.value != null
+
+    // Device state
+    private val _currentRotation = MutableStateFlow(Surface.ROTATION_0)
+    val currentRotation: StateFlow<Int> = _currentRotation.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _currentLocation = MutableStateFlow<Location?>(null)
+    val currentLocation: StateFlow<Location?> = _currentLocation.asStateFlow()
+
+    // Processing indicator
+    private val _isProcessing = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val isProcessing: StateFlow<Boolean> = _isProcessing.asStateFlow()
+
+    fun updateBlurParams(params: BlurParameters) {
+        _blurParams.value = params
+    }
+
+    fun resetBlurParams() {
+        _blurParams.value = BlurParameters.DEFAULT
+    }
+
+    fun toggleControls() {
+        _showControls.value = !_showControls.value
+    }
+
+    fun updateRotation(rotation: Int) {
+        _currentRotation.value = rotation
+    }
+
+    fun updateLocation(location: Location?) {
+        _currentLocation.value = location
+    }
+
+    fun loadGalleryImage(uri: Uri) {
+        if (_isCapturing.value || isGalleryPreview) return
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            _isProcessing.value = true
+            val bitmap = captureHandler.loadGalleryImage(uri)
+            _isProcessing.value = false
+            if (bitmap != null) {
+                _galleryBitmap.value = bitmap
+                _galleryImageUri.value = uri
+            } else {
+                haptics.error()
+                showError("Failed to load image")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun cancelGalleryPreview() {
+        val old = _galleryBitmap.value
+        _galleryBitmap.value = null
+        _galleryImageUri.value = null
+        old?.recycle()
+    }
+
+    fun applyGalleryEffect() {
+        val uri = _galleryImageUri.value ?: return
+        if (_isCapturing.value) return
+        _isCapturing.value = true
+        _isProcessing.value = true
+        haptics.heavyClick()
+
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            val result = captureHandler.processExistingImage(
+                imageUri = uri,
+                blurParams = _blurParams.value,
+                location = _currentLocation.value
+            )
+            handleSaveResult(result)
+            cancelGalleryPreview()
+            _isCapturing.value = false
+            _isProcessing.value = false
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun capturePhoto() {
+        if (_isCapturing.value) return
+        val imageCapture = cameraManager.imageCapture ?: return
+        _isCapturing.value = true
+        _isProcessing.value = true
+        haptics.heavyClick()
+
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            val result = captureHandler.capturePhoto(
+                imageCapture = imageCapture,
+                executor = cameraManager.getExecutor(),
+                blurParams = _blurParams.value,
+                deviceRotation = _currentRotation.value,
+                location = _currentLocation.value,
+                isFrontCamera = cameraManager.isFrontCamera.value
+            )
+            handleSaveResult(result)
+            _isCapturing.value = false
+            _isProcessing.value = false
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun handleSaveResult(result: SaveResult) {
+        when (result) {
+            is SaveResult.Success -> {
+                haptics.success()
+                val oldThumb = _lastThumbnailBitmap.value
+                _lastThumbnailBitmap.value = result.thumbnail
+                _lastSavedUri.value = result.uri
+                oldThumb?.recycle()
+                viewModelScope.launch {
+                    _showSaveSuccess.value = true
+                    kotlinx.coroutines.delay(1500)
+                    _showSaveSuccess.value = false
+                }
+            }
+            is SaveResult.Error -> {
+                haptics.error()
+                showError(result.message)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun showError(message: String) {
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            _showSaveError.value = message
+            kotlinx.coroutines.delay(2000)
+            _showSaveError.value = null
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun showCameraError(message: String) {
+        showError(message)
+    }
+
+    override fun onCleared() {
+        super.onCleared()
+        cameraManager.release()
+        _lastThumbnailBitmap.value?.recycle()
+        _galleryBitmap.value?.recycle()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/no/naiv/tiltshift/ui/theme/AppColors.kt b/app/src/main/java/no/naiv/tiltshift/ui/theme/AppColors.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4a1ba4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/no/naiv/tiltshift/ui/theme/AppColors.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package no.naiv.tiltshift.ui.theme
+
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
+
+/**
+ * Centralized color definitions for the Tilt-Shift Camera app.
+ */
+object AppColors {
+    val Accent = Color(0xFFFFB300)
+    val OverlayDark = Color(0x80000000)
+    val OverlayDarker = Color(0xCC000000)
+    val Success = Color(0xFF4CAF50)
+    val Error = Color(0xFFF44336)
+    val OverlayLinearBlur = Color(0x40FFFFFF)
+    val OverlayRadialBlur = Color(0x30FFFFFF)
+    /** Dark outline behind overlay guide lines for visibility over bright scenes. */
+    val OverlayOutline = Color(0x80000000)
+}
diff --git a/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index cd52516..37e1882 100644
--- a/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ playServicesLocation = "21.3.0"
 androidx-core-ktx = { group = "androidx.core", name = "core-ktx", version.ref = "coreKtx" }
 androidx-lifecycle-runtime-ktx = { group = "androidx.lifecycle", name = "lifecycle-runtime-ktx", version.ref = "lifecycleRuntimeKtx" }
 androidx-lifecycle-runtime-compose = { group = "androidx.lifecycle", name = "lifecycle-runtime-compose", version.ref = "lifecycleRuntimeKtx" }
+androidx-lifecycle-viewmodel-compose = { group = "androidx.lifecycle", name = "lifecycle-viewmodel-compose", version.ref = "lifecycleRuntimeKtx" }
 androidx-activity-compose = { group = "androidx.activity", name = "activity-compose", version.ref = "activityCompose" }
 androidx-compose-bom = { group = "androidx.compose", name = "compose-bom", version.ref = "composeBom" }
 androidx-ui = { group = "androidx.compose.ui", name = "ui" }