Born in El Paso, Texas in 1957, Deras' serious interest in photography began at the University Texas at El Paso where he studied under Bruce Berman, who introduced him to "The Concerned Photographer" style of photography and particularly the work of Josef Koudelka. It was in the restless beauty of Koudelka's images of Roma society that Deras saw that photography could be an instrument of the psyche and heart. He was determined to become a photographer, and with Berman's encouragement, he transferred to Art Center College of Design, where he received his BFA in photography in 1982. After Art Center, Deras began working with the international design firm, Landor Associates in San Francisco as Director of Photography throughout the 1980's. His work has received recognition from the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Graphis Design Annual, and the California Preservation Foundation Design Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge.