The sun through mist

The sun powers our world: almost all of our energy comes from it, yet it is rare to see it as it is. This morning’s mist diffused the direct view, but anyhow for maximum caution I set this image up using the rear screen on my DSLR. There seem to be two sunspots which I think are real, not optical artefacts.
Why is there colour? Why is one face brighter than the other? I think both are due to the effects of the mist.