Difficult dynamic range in landscapes (creeks)

[Jarrod268]

Do you just move on when the conditions are not right? I shot these this morning and I wasn't prepared for the variances.

I am buying a circular polarizer today after seeing these results (I've been putting it off).
So, I didn't get there early enough - the sunlight through the trees was adding higlights I didn't need/want. Water, mist/fog, blood (fell down some rocks on the way down)...

I used a graduated ND filter but it still made life difficult.

Any composition tips or ways to handle the dynamic range better?

1)

Harpeth-4 by shakes268, on Flickr

2)

Harpeth-2 by shakes268, on Flickr

3)

Harpeth-1 by shakes268, on Flickr